‘A great young lad, RIP Ryan’: tributes paid to tragic GAA player killed in Sydney crash
TRIBUTES have been paid to a GAA player who died in a road crash in Australia, with friends describing him as a ‘lovely lad’.
Ryan Straney, 27, was killed in a traffic collision in Sydney during the early hours of Monday morning.
Mr Str aney, from Upper Springfield Road in Belfast, was a senior GAA player with Lámh Dearg GLC in the Hannahstown area of his native city.
A post on social media said he was the ‘beloved son of Vincent and Sharon, loving brother to Declan and Callum and cherished grandson of Geordie and Theresa’.
‘An investigation has commenced’
‘He will be sadly missed by his wider family circle and friends at home and abroad,’ the post added.
The official Antrim GAA page wrote on Facebook: ‘We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Lámh Dearg GLC and the entire community on the shock passing of Ryan Straney.
‘Ryan was a member of their Senior Football team and has been in Australia. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends at this deeply sad time. ‘Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.’ Further tributes poured in for Mr Straney, with one person writing: ‘A great young lad – RIP Ryan.’
‘Awful news,’ another added. ‘Great young lad who stayed with us when his school came to Philadelphia. May he rest in peace.’ Another wrote: ‘I had the pleasure of meeting this young man through some family members God bless Ryan may you RIP.’
It is understood that a man in his 90s was driving a vehicle south in the northbound lane on the M1 Pacific Motorway before colliding with two cars and a truck at 4.40am local time.
Mr Straney was pronounced dead at the scene, while a man remains in critical condition in hospital.
A spokesman for New South Wales police said: ‘An investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
‘A report will be prepared with the information of the coroner.’