Tributes flood in for dead footballer

Friends and colleagues tonight paid glowing tribute to a young footballer who plunged to his death in an accident at his Longford home.

Shane Brennan, a winger with Athlone Town FC, had returned from a night out with friends when he fell through a roof at his house in Newtownforbes.

The 23-year-old died after spending 48 hours on a life support machine in Mullingar Hospital.

Fr Hugh Turbitt, parish priest in the town, said the family, who kept a bedside vigil all weekend, were completely stunned by what had happened.

“Both the parents are broken hearted. They are good people and it will take a long time to come through this,” he said.

“The family were very well known and very highly regarded and it is such a loss for them. Shane was an out-going, lively, wholesome young lad. He’ll be sorely missed.”

As well as playing in the Eircom League, Shane was a high-achieving business student at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) where he recently sat his final exams of a degree course.

John Jameson, head of the school of management studies, recalled the young footballer’s popularity at the city’s Aungier Street campus.

“Shane was a hugely popular figure in DIT, and fellow students expressed a deep shock and sense of loss,” Mr Jameson noted.

“On behalf of Shane’s fellow students, team mates, lecturers, tutors and the entire DIT community, we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Shane’s family and friends.”

Shane was a DIT sports scholar and captained the Institute’s football team. Last week, he had trials for the Irish squad for the World Student Games.

It is understood Shane had been out socialising on Friday night before returning to his parents home at around 4am.

Gardai confirmed he had climbed on to a roof of the house, which collapsed under his weight causing him fatal injuries.

His remains will be brought to St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford tomorrow evening and a funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday morning.

Prayers have also been offered up at all Masses in Newtownforbes for family and friends.

Management at Athlone Town FC said Shane’s death was a huge blow.

“Shane’s death has come as a huge blow to everyone who knew him, and indeed anyone who even met him at a match and had a quick chat,” they stated.

“He was a hugely likeable person, and couldn’t help but make an impression on those that met him.

“Our thoughts are with his family, particularly his father John Joe, mother Margaret and brother Stephen at this terrible time.”

Club management confirmed all events, including this Friday’s game at home to Galway United will be postponed as a mark of respect.