The funeral of Caolan Devlin, who tragically passed away in a crash on the A5, will be held on Saturday. Caolan, aged 30 and from near Coalisland, was Gerard and Margaret’s beloved son and Niall’s much-loved brother. He died in a collision between the BMW he was driving and a lorry on March 5.
His removal from his late residence will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m., and he will arrive at the Church of The Holy Family, Plater’s Hill, for Requiem Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in SS Mary and Joseph’s Cemetery, Brackaville Road.
Caolan’s family expressed their deep regret at his passing, and his aunt posted a heartbreaking tribute on social media, describing him as her “wee shadow growing up” and “the best lad ever.” She expressed her devastation and the unfairness of his loss, saying he was loved so much and would never be forgotten.
The crash occurred the same day the Assembly heard calls for an urgent upgrade of the A5, one of the most dangerous roads in Northern Ireland.
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd stated that progressing the A5 is his top priority, emphasizing that too many lives have been lost on the road.
Caolan was a talented hurler with the Naomh Colmcille club near Dungannon. He won several Tyrone Junior titles with them and represented Tyrone at Minor level. He was also a former member of the Coalisland Fianna GAA club.
In light of this tragic loss, tributes have poured in from various quarters, including politicians Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, who called for work on the A5 upgrade to proceed without delay. The Naomh Colmcille club also extended their condolences to the Devlin family, offering support during this difficult time.