The father of a man who died in a road crash on Christmas Eve has said, in an emotional tribute delivered at his funeral today, that he and his wife are living “every parent’s nightmare”.
John Hanna (34) died following a single-vehicle collision on the Downpatrick Road in Ballynahinch at around 4.45pm on December 24.
Mr Hanna is among several people who have lost their lives on NI’s roads over this year’s Christmas period.
During Mr Hanna’s funeral at St Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick, today, his father James delivered an emotional tribute to his son, whose own son affectionately called “Dada”.
“This is a parent’s worst nightmare, burying your child before their time,” he told mourners.
“He loved his wee son James, and wee James loved Dada. He loved his diggers and lorries. John always maintained he was the best digger driver in the world — the rest were only acting.
“He watched James play football on Sunday and looked forward to his wee video calls every Wednesday night.
“When they were together at the weekends, they’d go up to Warrenpoint, where they had good fun.
“Thank you, John, for being a friend, but, most of all, thank you for being a son and dad. Dada, I love you. Rest in peace.”
Funeral of John Hanna at St Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick, on December 30, 2024 (Photo by Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph)
The tribute comes as funerals continue to take place for a number of people killed in road crashes over the festive period.
Father and son Peter and Loughlin Devlin, who died following a crash near Killylea, Co Armagh, on Friday, will be buried on New Year’s Day.
Four others, including a baby, were taken to hospital following the fatal collision.
A joint funeral will take place in the Church of St Joseph, Tynan, at midday.
Peter Devlin and his son were described in death notices as a “beloved husband” and “loving father”.
Local priest Fr Sean Moore said the thoughts of everyone in the community are with the men’s relatives.
Garrick Wood, who died following a collision near Victoria Bridge in Co Tyrone, was buried on Christmas Eve, while 70-year-old Edmund Hughes, who died after being struck by a vehicle in Dungannon on December 20, was buried last Friday.
Father and son Peter and Loughlin Devlin, who died following a crash on Friday
Another man, in his 70s, died on December 20 following a collision between a Porsche Cayenne and a lorry close to Ballynure, Co Antrim.
On Saturday, the funeral of 20-year-old newlywed Amy Stokes was told she had recently discovered she was going to be a new mum.
Mrs Stokes died on December 23 after an accident near Derrylin in Co Fermanagh. She had married her husband Damien just three months earlier.
At her funeral in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, parish priest Fr Liam Kelly said that Amy was “happy, radiant and full of fun”.
Addressing mourners at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, he also made a plea for road safety, given the recent spate of deaths.
Separately, a lorry driver, aged in his 40s, died after a collision near Beragh, Co Tyrone, on the same day Mrs Stokes lost her life.
Police said the single-vehicle collision in the Moylagh Road area was reported shortly after 7.50am.