Magherafelt crash victim had a 'warm and gentle nature', mourners at his funeral told

Mourners at the funeral of Tony Wright, who died following a single vehicle crash in Magherafelt, have heard that ‘people flocked to him because of his warm and gentle nature’.

This afternoon’s service was held in Church of St Mary, Coolcalm, Desertmartin and was attended by the 54 year-old’s family and many friends.

Tony sustained fatal injuries in the single-vehicle collision involving a van he was driving on the Grange Road, Magherafelt on Sunday, June 1.

The Magherafelt man later died in hospital surrounded by his family.

At the beginning of Tony’s requiem mass, a number of items symbolising his life were brought to the altar by family members.

Among the items was a medal which represented ‘his love of running’ and a family picture ‘because nothing mattered more to Tony than his family’.

Mourners also heard that Tony was a keen photographer, ‘who never missed a photo opportunity’, and a camera was brought to the altar to represent this.

A photograph of Tony and his lifelong friends with whom he shared ‘an unbreakable bond’ was also placed on the altar by a family member.

Officiating, Fr Michael McCaul described Tony’s death as ‘untimely’ and said that he would be missed by so many people.

Born to the late Jim and Sadie Wright in ‘his beloved Rosegarron area’, Tony went to school in St Joseph’s Primary School and later St Pius X College in Magherafelt.

He began his working career as a coal man before securing a job in an adult centre.

“I was told by the family, and indeed by lots of his friends, that Tony was very easy to get on with. People flocked to him because of his warm and gentle nature. He attracted people and was very good with people,” Fr McCaul said.

Tony also worked in a local shirt factory for many years before being employed by BRC McMahon Reinforcements where he had worked for the last 20 years.

Asking that Tony’s family be surrounded in prayer, Fr McCaul continued: “You all held him in great affection as a brother, as an uncle, as a dear friend to so many and I know his death now brings an absence to your lives.

“Today we are here to celebrate the loving, caring and nurturing aspects of Tony’s personality, the same way as we come to celebrate all aspects of his sharp, witty and lively character.

“Tony certainly was a colourful character. I was told by the family that Tony told you as it was, there was no filter. If Tony had something to tell you, he would soon tell you. While Tony may have been the first person to correct someone if they were wrong, he was also the first person to congratulate you if you were in the right.”

Mourners also heard that Tony was known to his friends as ‘the lone wolf’ and was always ‘at the centre of some of their funniest moments together’.

“He could lift the mood, that’s the kind of character Tony was, and I’m sure if he was here now he would lift the mood with a one-liner. When Tony laughed, all his friends laughed,” the priest said.

Mourners heard that Tony was ‘a man of many gifts and talents’.

A gifted runner and member of the Magherafelt Harriers Running Club, Tony had taken on many marathons and ultra marathons over the years.

He just recently completed a marathon in Greece and just a few weeks ago he took on the Belfast Marathon.

“I was told this morning that Tony would often help the other runners along the road and then I was told about the competitive streak in Tony,” Fr McCaul said.

“Whenever Tony flicked around his cap he meant business and you knew you were in for a race with Tony and he was going to teach you a lesson in humility as he sped on and you were left miles behind.”

An avid reader, Tony was also described as a keen photographer who enjoyed taking pictures of all the main celebrations, however he preferred to stay behind the camera and 'out of the spotlight'.

Fr McCaul stated that Tony however did find himself the centre of attention on more than one occasion.

He alluded to the time when Tony travelled up to Belfast to attend the Stephen Nolan Show.

“I believe he had a question lined up about Donald Trump and how he could come here and solve our wee problems, long before he was president. He was in the spotlight then for that,” the priest said.

Describing Tony as ‘a gentle soul’, Fr McCaul said he had also been involved in the CLM programme, where he had assisted pilgrims going to Lourdes.

“These good deeds will go with Tony now,” said Fr McCaul, continuing: “Tony was a man of faith who liked to light candles and for that Tony, to your whole family, was like a lighted candle in this whole world, he lit up the darkness of the world and of our lives and I pray that over the next few days and weeks he continues to light up the darkness that lies ahead, especially for his nieces and nephews who he doted on.”

During the service Fr McCaul also recited a poem by Henry van Dyke entitled ‘Gone from my sight’.

Tony was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery following the service.