Victim of Carlow hunting accident remembered as a 'truly great son and brother'

"It's understood Paul Fitzpatrick (21) died after he was accidently shot while they were hunting in a rural location near Leighlinbridge in Co Carlow on Tuesday night, December 2. Emergency services were alerted at around 11pm by Mr Fitzpatrick's friend, who said the deceased had suffered a serious gunshot injury. Mr Fitzpatrick was pronounced dead at the scene and the area was preserved for a technical examination."

"A guard of honour, formed by members of the Bagenalstown Gaels GAA Club, filled the churchyard of St. Andrew's Church in Bagnalstown today for Mr Fitzpatrick's funeral mass, symbolising their love and respect for their fallen team mate. Once inside the church, a photo of Mr Fitzpatrick was lovingly placed on top of his coffin, while two more photographs, one of the Fitzpatrick family and the other of Mr Fitzpatrick proudly holding a motorcross trophy were brought to the alter by his godparents."

"Mr Fitzpatrick had a way with people. The friends he made during his days in creche as a young child, still remained his close friends to this day. It was during his time as a young child in creche that Mr Fitzpatrick first became friends with a young girl by the name of Ebony. "Unbeknownst to him, or at least I hope it was unbeknownst to him, Ebony was to become his one true love," said Mr Fitzpatrick's dad, Darran, during his son's eulogy."

Paul Fitzpatrick, aged 21, died after being accidentally shot while hunting near Leighlinbridge in County Carlow on the night of December 2. Emergency services were alerted around 11pm by a friend reporting a serious gunshot injury. Fitzpatrick was pronounced dead at the scene and the area was preserved for a technical examination. Gardaí are treating the death as a tragic accident. Hundreds attended his funeral mass at St. Andrew's Church in Bagenalstown, where a Bagenalstown Gaels GAA guard of honour and family photographs, including one of him with a motorcross trophy, were displayed. He is remembered as a loyal friend who formed lifelong bonds from early childhood and attended SETU.

Read at Irish Independent