The late Paul Gillen There was a large representation of GAA members and officials at the funeral of 19-year-old Paul Gillen from Dungiven who was the North's first road accident of the New Year. The teenager from Corrick Road, Cashel, Dungiven, died in a three car collision on the Foreglen Road, near Dungiven, around 9.40pm in Monday, January 2. Four other people were injured in the accident. Only son of Finbar and alice Gillen, Paul is also survived by four sisters, Aine, Roisin, Clare and Lisa and large family circle. Well known in GAA circles in County Derry, he played hurling for the local Kevin Lynch Hurling Club and St. Canice's G.A.C. His sisters, Clare and Lisa are playing members of St. Patrick's Camoige Club in Dungiven. Paul played in the Kevin Lynch side which won the Ulster Minor Club Hurling Championship in 2002. Mr Gerry Owens, Chairman of St Canice's G.A.C., said the youth's death was a tragic loss for Dungiven and the GAA. "He played at all underage levels and was a hardworking and promising young player. He was equally talented as he was dedicated, Paul was a very popular figure within the club. "He will be greatly missed. "He would like to extend our sympathies to his family. We are a very close knit community and this is a great shock for everyone at the club and everyone in the town". Sinn fein assembly member Francis Brolly - a close neighbour of the Gillen family - said the town was in deep shock following Paul's death. Dungiven, he said, had lost "a much loved and well liked young man". "This is a terrible tragedy for the family and for the town. Paul and his family are close neighbours of mine and my thoughts are with his family at this time. Paul was a really good fellow from a really good family. The Gillen family have a lovely quiet modesty about them. This will be very hard for his parents and four sisters", Mr Brolly said. "They will be totally devastated". Mr Brolly said the teenager could have had a promising sporting career ahead of him. "He was only 19 and had played at minor level. It would have been interesting to see how he would have developed. He was very committed and would have been a prominent figure in local GAA circles for years to come". Mr Brolly added that Paul had been a close friend of Mark Bonner, who died in January 2005 with Cathal O'Kane in a car crash on the Ballyquin Road. Local Councillor Anne Brolly said the community was devastated by this latest loss. She said: "The Gillen family are neighbours of the Bonners who lost their son Mark in another road accident a year ago and I know they were a great help at that time. "People of this area, Benedy, are close-knit and they are all just devastated at the news". The funeral at St. Patrick's Church, Dungiven, was followed by internment in the adjoining cemetery. Courtesy of Mid Ulster Observer 12 January 2006 Tweet

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