Former mayor dies refereeing game

Michael Cole was from Kilkeel in County Down

A referee has collapsed and died at a GAA match in County Down.

Michael Cole, who was in his 50s and from Kilkeel, was also a councillor on Newry and Mourne District Council and had just completed a term as mayor.

The SDLP man was refereeing a Down division one match between Ballyholland and Saval on Thursday night.

His successor as mayor of Newry, Sinn Féin's Colman Burns, said news of the death, and its circumstances, had shocked the local community.

"On a personal basis I am deeply saddened. I sat beside Michael since I entered the council in 2000 and, despite being in different political parties, always saw him as a friend," he said.

"He was a dedicated and hard working councillor. This is a sad day."

The chairman of Ballyholland GAA club, Sean McAteer, said Saval's physio and the Ballyholland nurse tried to help Mr Cole.

"An ambulance was called right away, the ambulance people were giving the people on the the pitch direction on the phone of what was best to do until they arrived.

"They arrived and worked for a long time, but it became obvious that there was very little they could do," he said.

'Public servant'

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Mr Cole was a man who showed "instinctive care, natural charm and utter decency".

"As a politician he showed purpose rather than pose. He was a man of modesty and honesty. His untimely death robs us all of a dedicated and decent public servant," he said.

Newry and Armagh assembly member Danny Kennedy said he felt a "sense of shock and sadness" when he heard about Mr Cole's death.

He said he had been a friend and "worthy political opponent" who had been "a very effective and popular first citizen".

GAA president Nickey Brennan extended the association's "deepest sympathies" to Mr Cole's family and friends.

He added that Mr Cole had been "a great GAA man who was very committed to refereeing".

Mr Cole is believed to have collapsed about half-an-hour into the game.