By Rosetta Donnelly
THE horrific accident with a bull which claimed the life of local man Michael Donnelly, was the second tragedy to happen on that farm.
Twenty-five years ago Cecil Kerr who was very well known as a manager of Wattersons Drapery store, drowned in the slurry tank on the farm. It is believed the late Mr Kerr was working on the Aghnamoyle farm when he slipped and fell in to the tank.
And in a sad twist the community is mourning yet another farm accident with the death of Mr Donnelly.
The 60-year-old Drumquin man was laid to rest on Tuesday after Requiem Mass in his native Drumquin. The church was overflowing with mourners.
Mr Donnelly was attacked around midday on Sunday at the farm he had taken as conacre at Aghnamoyle. Although injured, Mr Donnelly was able to drive to his home farm at Dressogue, Drumquin from where an ambulance was called.
Paramedics assisted the injured man before and during the journey to the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 3pm.
A post mortem was carried out in Portadown before the body was released for burial.
Mr Donnelly's tragic death has plunged the entire Drumquin community into a deep sense of shock, disbelief and sadness. He was well known throughout the district, where he also worked as an agricultural contractor.
Father Kevin Mullan said Mr Donnelly, known by friends and family as 'Mick' was "a quiet and unassuming man who was respected by all sides of the community." Mick was a great family man and great neighbour, well respected by everyone," he said.
"He turned 60 early last month and celebrated in his own quiet way. There is widespread shock and sadness."
Mr Donnelly leaves his grieving wife Kathleen and children Claire, Katherine, Nuala, Paul, Martin, Aiden and Eugene.
A health and safety investigation is underway into the tragic incident which serves as a reminder of the extreme dangers of working with livestock. Mr Donnelly is the third man in Tyrone to be killed following an attack by a farm animal in the past 13 months.
On April 30 last year former Omagh Council chairman Michael McAnespie died after being gored by a bull, just days before Loughmacrory farmer Peter Fox met his death as a result of multiple injuries sustained in an attack by a cow. And in more recent times, another Loughmacrory farmer Jim Kelly was hospitalised as a result of being trampled by a cow, while Castlederg man Will Andrews had a lucky escape after being attacked by a bull on his farm at Killeter. Back in March, Colin Turner, a close neighbour of Mr Donnelly's, was killed in an accident while working in a hen house. West Tyrone councillor Pat McDonnell, speaking after attending Mr Donnelly's funeral, said the deceased was a hard-working man who could regularly be seen cutting hedges in the area.
He said the dangers of bulls and cows have been a fact of life for farmers for many years but that does not lessen from this awful tragedy. "A lot of farmers like the large continental bulls but they are very unpredictable.
"I am constantly telling people that there is no such thing as a quiet bull and they should never put down their guard when near them", added the councillor.
