ABC councillors have paid emotional tributes to Daniel McCallister (18) who died in hospital last Wednesday (September 18) following a two-vehicle collision in Markethill.
The young man was from the Ballyshiel Road, in the townland of Clare, near Tandragee, and a number of councillors spoke of their sorrow as they mourned the loss of someone they knew personally, along with his family.
Daniel McCallister died in hospital, after his blue Volkswagen Jetta and a Volkswagen Touran crashed on the Cladymilltown Road.
Speaking at Monday night’s (September 23) ABC monthly meeting, Cllr Ian Wilson said: “These remarks are something that I certainly did not expect or wish to be making in this chamber. Our borough has seen another tragedy. I would like to speak about young Daniel McCallister who sadly lost his life at 18 years of age.
“The loving son of William and Barbara, and brother to Sarah, Jack, Kathryn and Samuel, a special grandson to his doting grandparents Jackie and Eileen, this is a knock at the door that no family wants to receive, this kind of devastating news.
“Daniel put up a courageous fight but sadly passed away on Wednesday [September 18] due to his injuries.
“The family could not speak highly enough of the care Daniel received from the emergency services who attended the scene of the accident, also the medical team in the Royal Victoria Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
“I have known the McCallister family for 30 years, I’ve watched Daniel grow up and at 18 he was starting to make his own way in life, until this tragedy took him from this world.
“Daniel was a member of my Orange Lodge, Laurencetown Purple Star LOL 822, along with his father, brothers and grandfather. Daniel was so proud to follow in his family’s tradition of the Orange institution.
“Our lodge has a strong family ethos, and Daniel, your Laurencetown Orange family are heartbroken at your loss.
“Some of my abiding memories of Daniel was as a boy with a ball of energy and a zest for life, and a love for all things agriculture. When he got his own chickens I would always ask him ‘Where’s my eggs?’, but the eggs never appeared.
“A real practical joker and if he got one over in you, as he did with me many times, you got his trademark cheeky grin.
“Getting his Lambeg drum ready and taking it out on July 12 – he played much better than me, I have to say – was something he really enjoyed doing, alongside his brothers Jack and Samuel.
“But the most heartfelt memory of all that I have is the special relationship Daniel had with his doting grandfather Jackie. If I’m ever lucky enough to be blessed with grandchildren, I hope that I could be half as good a grandparent as Granda Jackie.
“In times like this, it shows us how fragile and precious life is in such a cruel way, and brings life into perspective. Things we think are important pale into insignificance.
“When it comes to tragedies like this, can I appeal to everyone, please take care and drive carefully. Too many families are being left heartbroken from deaths on our roads, and so many have been affected in our borough over recent months.
“Daniel, your pain is gone now. You’re safe In the arms of Jesus. Could I ask that a letter be sent to the McCallister family on behalf of this council.”
Cllr Keith Ratcliffe spoke warmly of a popular young man who lived close to his own home: “Sadly, just last week we experienced another tragic road accident that took the life of Daniel McCallister, aged just 18 years of age.
“Daniel lived just a mile from me and was a former pupil of both Clare Primary School and Markethill High School. He was a typical teenager, full of energy, mischief and life.
“At his funeral yesterday, the overwhelming grief, sadness and shock felt by his neighbours, the local community and his school friends, was all too evident.
“It’s hard to imagine the devastation of receiving that knock on anyone’s door. News that no parent should have to hear. The loss is simply unimaginable, utterly heartbreaking.
“I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Daniel’s father William, his mother Barbara, and siblings Sarah, Jack, Kathryn and Samuel during this extremely difficult time.
“I also want to acknowledge the other driver involved in the accident who is very much in my thoughts and prayers at this moment.
“In closing, can I just ask everyone to take care on the roads, especially with the darker nights coming in, as we’ve had far too many tragedies this last while, especially in the Markethill area.”
Alderman Paul Berry spoke of his sadness, as he too knew the family circle: “I would just like to concur with the remarks that have been made by Cllrs Wilson and Ratcliffe on the tragic and very sad death of young Daniel.
“I knew William, the father, very well and have done business with him over the past number of years. It’s just devastating to watch parents walking behind the coffin of an 18-year-old. Such a sad sight to behold.
“And obviously with the hundreds that were at the funeral yesterday, it has really hit the community hard, but especially his young friends, and our thoughts are with them as well, because of the devastation and shock that this has brought upon their lives, and also the other family that has also been affected by this.
“Our prayers go out to everyone who has been impacted in so many different ways in this.”
Alderman Gordon Kennedy spoke of the strong bond of friendship between Daniel and his own children: “Can I be associated with the comments as well. I knew young Daniel very well.
“Many a night he was in our caravan in Cranfield with our ones, he was in the same age bracket and he’d be playing football and stuff. It’s a terrible tragedy.”
Cllr Tim McClelland explained that his daughter and Daniel were in the same year at primary school: “I just want to concur with with what other members and colleagues have said regarding this tragic accident that claimed young Daniel’s life.
“The McCallister family are neighbours of mine, but probably the closer connection is that Daniel went right up through Clare PS in the same year as my daughter Rachel, and that really brings these events home in a huge way.
“So just to conclude by extending my sincere and deepest sympathies to all the McCallister family.”
