Jody’s wife Deirdre, daughters Áine, Niamh and son James, mother Sheila, brothers, sister, father-in-law, Tony, in-laws, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends are deeply saddened by Jody’s untimely death.

Our family have taken great comfort and strength from the exceptional support, loving care and attention?shown to us by all who crossed our paths in the short months of Jody’s illness. In particular, all the healthcare professionals and colleagues in the Belfast Trust, Dr. Dugan and the Primary Care team, the NI Hospice and Marie Curie. They cared for Jody with great kindness and expertise over the last few months and provided support for our family during the most difficult of times. Many thanks also to family, friends, colleagues and neighbours who were always there to support our family, often at very short notice, during Jody’s brief illness. This collective support enabled Jody’s wish to remain in his own home possible and we are forever indebted to you for your kindness. Someone said it takes a village- and we certainly felt a village of support around us at all times.

Our family also appreciated all the comforting phone calls, messages, cards and letters received both before and after Jody’s death. The high esteem in which Jody was held was reflected in the outpouring of support on a national and local level; he bridged generations and communities, as he had done throughout his life. The anecdotes, tributes and memories shared by diverse pupils past and present, friends, GAA members, neighbours and others who knew him gave some indication of the rich tapestry that was Jody’s life and the impact he made on all whom he met.

Our thanks are extended to those who visited our home, brought food, helped, stood along the funeral route, and those who supported the family by organising the wake, funeral and guards of honour. Thanks to those who joined us at the requiem Mass, both within the chapel, outside and online, and to those who sent flowers or donations in lieu. Thanks also to the PSNI for their management of the routes taken both in Belfast and in Tyrone.

We are genuinely blessed to have had such love and support from our relatives, friends, neighbours and work colleagues throughout this difficult time, which has helped us in so many ways to grieve as a family.

We would like in particular to thank Father Brendan Hickland P.P. for his spiritual support in recent months, for the very comforting homily during the requiem Mass, and for his ongoing care. We would also like to record our appreciation to Canon John McKenna P.E for making the journey from Trillick, for concelebrating the Mass and for his prayers during the committal. We also convey our appreciation to all the clergy who assisted with the Mass, the Sacristan, and everyone who took part in the Liturgy, especially our readers and our musicians Emma McCarron, James McCaffrey, Mark McAloon and Róna and Barry McLaughlin, who provided the beautiful, reverent and uplifting music. Our sincere thanks also to Paddy Heaney for his very moving and accurate eulogy.

Thank you to McAtee Funeral Directors for the dignified and professional manner in which the funeral arrangements were carried out.

Sincere thanks to the many GAA clubs and to the Abbey Grammar School, Newry, for their guards of honour. Particular thanks to the Trillick management committee for their moving tribute to Jody at his beloved Trillick GAA ground. Thank you to all who helped provide refreshments both in the Holy Rosary Parish Centre, Belfast, and in Trillick Leisure Centre. We would also like to thank Brendan the gravedigger for preparing Jody’s final resting place.

As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement to everyone who helped and supported us as a gesture of our family’s deepest gratitude and appreciation.

Jody is loved and missed every day. May his brave, generous, warrior soul be granted peace and eternal rest.

Jody’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated in The Good Shepherd Church, Belfast on Sunday 12th January at 12.30pm. Refreshments afterwards in the Parador Inn, Ormeau Road Belfast.