OMAGH District Council's monthly meeting was adjourned on Monday night due to the untimely death of former councillor Cathal Quinn, who died suddenly at his home in Dromore at the weekend.

Mr Quinn, a lifelong native of Tummery, was laid to rest on Tuesday after 11am mass at St Davog's Church in Dromore.

His death came as a shock to the people of the town and to councillors in the Omagh area. He had served as a representative for eight years on Omagh District Council and his wife, Ann, is a current council member

Chairman Sean Begley opened Monday night's meeting by extending his deepest sympathies to Ann and their four children, daughters Shelley, Brenda and Zenia and son Declan.

The adjournment was proposed by Sinn Fein councillor Sean Clarke and was seconded by Independent representative Johnny McLaughlin, who had previously served along with former councillor Quinn.

The proposal was unanimously supported by all members in attendance and words of sympathy were expressed by representatives on all sides.

On Sunday a large crowd had turned out on Dromore's Main Street to meet Mr Quinn's remains as they made their way through the town.

Sinn Fein's West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff was one of the first to pay tribute, saying he was "shocked and greatly saddened" by Mr Quinn's passing and described him as "a great personal friend."

"Cathal was a hugely popular figure in Dromore and well known throughout Ireland. I was in Dublin and Monaghan over the weekend and his name kept coming up. He was held in very high esteem by everyone who knew him", remarked Cllr McElduff

The recently re-elected MLA went on to praise Mr Quinn's personal qualities and his generous nature.

"He was generous to a fault and was always available to give people a helping hand. Cathal extended a generosity of heart and spirit towards others and I would like to express my sympathy to his wife Ann and children from the community and the republican family throughout Ireland."