Former Mayor Dies Refereeing Match

A respected South Down politician and immediate past mayor has died suddenly.

The 52-year-old was acting as referee at a GAA match in Co Down last night when he suddenly collapsed and died

Michael Cole, from Kilkeel, was 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 Saval and Ballyholland 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.

Although an ambulance was called right away, and the ambulance personnel were giving the people on the pitch accurate directions on the phone of what was best to do until they arrived, and they worked for an extended period on the man after they arrived, there was very little they could do," he said.

The local Newry and Armagh MLA, Danny Kennedy also said he felt a "sense of shock and sadness" when he heard about Mr Cole's death.

(BMcC)