Family’s devastation as entrepreneur is crushed by a car in ‘freak accident’

A heartbroken relative of a Belfast entrepreneur who “loved tinkering with cars” has described her family’s agonising grief after a Jeep he was repairing collapsed on top of him.

Dominic Murray (67), a father of five, had been checking underneath the vehicle when the tragic incident occurred at his home at Cadogan Park on Monday afternoon.

Last night, as the family were preparing Mr Murray’s funeral arrangements, a grief-stricken familymembersaideveryonewasstill in shock.

She also said Mr Murray’s wife Brenda has been left inconsolable since the “freak accident” claimed

Larger than life: Dominic Murray

the life of her husband.

“We as a family are completely devastated and utterly heartbroken — we are all struggling to come to terms with our loss,” she said. “We are all in bits — it is just horrific.

“This was just a freak accident — he loved buying old cars and tinkering with them, it was his passion.”

She described Mr Murray as a “very private, but sociable” person.

“He was a family man and that’s how he chose to spend most of his time,” she added.

The grandfather-of-10 devoted much of his working life to building a multi-million pound business in England.

He sold the successful computer software company in 2009 and moved back home to enjoy retirement surrounded by his large family.

Last night his two surviving sisters, Babs and Annie, flew into Northern Ireland from Canada and England.

Paying tribute to a “beloved brother and special uncle”, Annie described Dominic as “a gentleman with a huge personality”.

“His generosity was bigger than his ambition and his personality filled a room,” she said.

Annie also described her “wonderful” brother, who was originally from Owenvarragh Park in Andersontown, as the “greatest storyteller of them all” and said he will be missed by many.

SDLP MLA Pat Catney, who knew Mr Murray through Annie, paid tribute to a “hard working, larger than life character”.

“He could light up a room,” he said.

Mr Catney described the “tal- ented guitar player” as a good man who also knew how to enjoy himself.

“Dominic was good fun and a joy to be around. Always the life and soul of the party, but ultimately he was a family man,” he said.

“He was also a successful businessman.

“It’s not easy to take chances in life, but Dominic did and he got to where he wanted to be — not many can say that, so it was certainly a life well lived.”

The Lagan Valley representative offered his heartfelt condolences to Mr Murray’s family.

A Requiem Mass will be held at 11.30am tomorrow at St Agnes’ Church, with a service at Roselawn Crematorium at 1.30pm.