A TEEMORE man who was fatally injured in an accident on the family farm last week “died doing something he loved”, his grieving sister has said.

Gerry Donohoe (47), of Dernagore, Teemore, died at the South West Acute Hospital at around 2.30am in the early hours of Friday morning.

He had been placed on a life support machine after sustaining a head injury in an incident on Thursday afternoon.

It is understood that the accident occurred while Mr. Donohoe was cutting silage at around 2pm on the family farm, where he lived with his parents, Eugene and Mary.

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSE NI) has confirmed that it is investigating the incident.

“Our sympathies are with the family at this most difficult time,” an HSE NI spokesperson added.

A funeral service was held for Mr. Donohoe in St. Mary’s Church, Teemore on Sunday morning, followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard.

The oldest of a family of three, Mr. Donohoe is also survived by his brother Thomas and sister Jennifer.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter on Monday, his sister, Jennifer, said that he had died doing “something he loved”.

She said that her brother had always had a keen interest in farming since he was a boy.

A past pupil of St. Mary’s Primary School in Teemore, Mr. Donohoe also attended St. Aidan’s High School in Derrylin before going on to study at the agricultural college in Enniskillen.

Although he had previously been employed by the Quinn Group for many years, his sister said that he had recently just been working on the family farm.

She said: “He loved to be out on the farm and enjoyed the outdoor life. In his younger years, he liked to go fishing and swimming.

“He was very good with machinery, all types of machinery.”

Jennifer said that any neighbours who needed help on their farms knew to come to Gerry for assistance.

“I will remember him out on the farm all the time,” she added.

Admitting that his death had come as a shock to the family, Jennifer said that her older brother had been doing something he had done “many times before”.

She said that the family did not know exactly what happened as no one else had been there at the time of the incident, adding that they were awaiting the outcome of the HSE investigation.

Praising the “great support” that her family had received from across the local community in the days since her brother’s death, Jennifer added: “It’s been overwhelming. We’re just a small, tight-knit community and everyone’s been very good. They all knew him.”

In a message posted on the Teemore Shamrocks Facebook page on Friday afternoon, the local GAA club expressed condolences to the family.

The message stated: “The club express sympathies to the Donohoe family on the death of Gerry Donohoe. May he Rest In Peace.”

Meanwhile, Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Rosemary Barton, has spoken of her sadness on learning of the tragedy.

Mrs. Barton said: “I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Mr. Donohoe.

“My sympathies and prayers are with the family and friends at this terrible time.

“This accident serves to remind us all again of the dangers of farm work.”

She added: “Despite the clear pressures of the summer months, I would urge all farm workers to take every precaution to ensure their safety during this busy time.”