Omagh man ‘exceptional friend and colleague’

A SENIOR KPMG partner described as an “exceptional friend and colleague” was fatally injured in the crash which saw another five people lose their lives.

Pat Cullinan, who was married with five children, was originally from Omagh in Co Tyrone, but left the small rural town to join the major firm in 1989.

The family man, who was in his 40s, joined KPMG’s Belfast office 22 years ago before working in London and Dublin over the next 13 years.

He returned to the North to work in the Belfast branch in 2005 when he was appointed a partner in the firm.

Mr Cullinan is also understood to have known a number of people who were affected by the lethal Omagh bombing by the Continuity IRA in August 1998.

In a statement confirming his passing, KPMG’s managing partner Terence O’Rourke said the loss of such a vibrant family man and talented businessman had come as a shock to all who knew him.

“Pat Cullinan was an extremely talented professional and a real gentleman. He was highly regarded by all of his colleagues and clients.

“His tragic and untimely death has come as a shock to everyone in the firm, especially to those in our Belfast office and to all who knew Pat as an exceptional friend and colleague,” he said.