Man found dead on West Cork village road named locally

Derrick Ferguson was on his way home on Monday evening when he suffered a suspected heart attack

The body of Derrick Ferguson, 55, was discovered yesterday.

The walker who died in a small west Cork village last night was a former member of the South Africa Police Service.

Named locally as Derrick Ferguson, in his 50s, was on his way home on Monday evening when he suffered a suspected heart attack.

He was found on the Church Hill road entrance to the Spires Estate across from St Mary’s Church in Innishannon at around 10.30 pm.

The South African married father-of-three was a keen walker and was well-known and liked in the area.

He is believed to have moved to the village about 13 years ago.

He is survived by his wife Margaret and while he has a son, Bruce, living in Cork, he also has another son living in South Africa and a daughter in Toronto, Canada, according to friends.

At the time of his death, he was working as a car salesman with Grandons Toyota Cork, about 30 minutes away in Glanmire.

Before he moved to Ireland, he worked as a car salesman shortly after retiring from the South African Police Service.

Colleagues at the Glanmire dealership say among photographs he had at his desk was one of him on patrol with his German Shepherd dog.

Ken Grandon, Dealer Principal at Grandons Toyota Cork, said: “It was a terrible shock to us all to get the news this morning that he had died.

“He was a great character.

“He loved his rugby and his cricket.

“And he was very proud of his wife and children.

“He was a great guy, always very obliging.” Local Cork County Council councillor Alan Coleman said: “This is a terrible shock for us all.

“He was a young man and a keen walker and you would often see him walking around the village.

“He was a good character and very chatty, very friendly.

“This is all very sad.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.”