Portadown man remembered as ‘one of life’s greats’ following death two weeks after workplace accident

A Portadown man who died almost two weeks after he was involved in a workplace accident has been described as “one of life’s greats”.

Gareth Richardson, who was known as ‘Paddy’, is reported to have been injured in an electrocution incident while working in Keady on January 10.

The father-of-four was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital but died on Wednesday.

A death notice described Mr Richardson as a loving and devoted husband and an adored daddy with his family asking for donations, in lieu of flowers, to go to the NI Air Ambulance.

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They also expressed their “sincere thanks” to the staff of Willowbank Surgery in Keady, the emergency services and RVH ICU staff who helped to treat him.

Mr Richardson worked for David Jameson Roofing Services Ltd, which described him as a “great character”.

In a statement, the company said: “Thank you for your prayers for our colleague Gareth ‘Paddy’ Richardson, but it is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Gareth has sadly passed away this evening.

“Paddy was a great character, very pleasant, thoughtful and took great pride in his work.

“He would never pass you when out or at the football.

“Simply put, a gentleman.”

Portadown Football Club also paid tribute to Mr Richardson describing him as an “ardent supporter”.

The club said he followed games “home and away, having been brought up with the club in his blood by way of his late father Geordie, who was kit man at Shamrock Park for over three decades with the Richardson family and Portadown FC having a strong affinity down through the years”.

Rectory Rangers FC also posted on Facebook that the club are “devastated to learn of the passing of former player and friend of many”.

“Paddy was just Paddy to us all, the word legend gets thrown about all to often, but he truly was a legend to all that had the pleasure of knowing him,” the club said.

Volunteer organisation, the Rectory Community Action Group, said Mr Richardson was “one of life’s greats, a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and son, and, a friend to so many”.

“Words just don’t seem to be enough but we hope in the coming days, weeks and months ahead that you can take some comfort in knowing how loved and well thought of Paddy was by so many,” a statement said on Facebook.

“He was just Paddy and we all loved him for it full of life, loved the craic, and always a story to tell.”