GAA club pays moving tribute to motorcyclist killed in road crash

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Lurgan man killed in a motorcycle crash at the weekend.

Declan Jordan (48) died after the blue Yamaha motorcycle he was riding was involved in a single-vehicle collision on the Quarterland Road in Dundrod, Co Antrim, on Sunday, at around 7pm.

The fatal crash was one of two serious motorcycle collisions that occurred within hours of each other on Northern Ireland’s roads at the weekend.

In a separate incident in Co Londonderry, a 28-year-old man sustained “life-changing” injuries when his bike hit a tree on the Tobermore Road in Draperstown at around 3.30pm.

As news of Mr Jordan’s tragic death emerged yesterday, Clan na Gael CLG — his former Gaelic athletic club — paid a moving tribute to the motorcycle rider, known by his nickname ‘Decky’.

“Decky was very much involved in the club and played underage football right from childhood into his teens,” said one of the club’s officials, Mr Noel O’Hagan.

“He was very outgoing, always cracking jokes and always full of banter.”

It is understood Mr Jordan ran a dog kennels business in Magheralin, where he had lived in recent years.

Mr O’Hagan, however, said that despite Mr Jordan moving away from the area in his adult years, he still maintained strong links to the Clan na Gael CLG club through his sister, Brenda Loughran, who is heavily involved with its ladies football team.

“When I heard the news I was deeply shocked,” he explained.

Offering the club’s sincerest condolences to Brenda and the wider family, Mr O’Hagan continued: “The family is very well thought of and, as a club, we were very saddened to learn of the loss of Decky. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time.”

His comments were echoed by Craigavon SDLP councillor Declan McAlinden, who said this latest loss was the fourth tragedy to hit the wider Lurgan community in recent weeks.

It follows the road deaths of father-of-four Michael Ginesi on May 26, and 25-year-old Magheralin man Niall O’Hanlon on May 11, as well as the sudden death of local teenager Shea Martin who was hit by a train on May 21.

Mr McAlinden said: “The Jordan family is well-known and very highly respected.

“And on behalf of the SDLP in Lurgan and Upper Bann, I offer our condolences to Declan’s relatives at this extremely difficult time.”

The PSNI is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed either of the motorcycle collisions to contact them via the non-emergency number 101.