Popular builder Adrian O’Kane who was knocked down and killed at the weekend in Spain while on a friend’s stag party trip
THE son of a Derry-born man described as a “true gent” has been tragically killed by an alleged drink and drug driver while on holiday in Spain.
Now a fundraising drive has been launched to help bring home the remains of popular builder Adrian O’Kane.
The 46-year-old was born in Birmingham but spent a lot of his time between the North and the Republic while growing up.
His two daughters, aged 13 and 15, live in Dublin with their mother.
It is understood Mr O’Kane had travelled to the Spanish resort of Magaluf last weekend for a friend’s stag party with a group of 40 pals.
He had left a night club around 3 am on Sunday morning and was walking back to his hotel along the party strip of Punta Ballena when he was struck by a car which had earlier been seen “driving aggressively” in the area.
Police in Magaluf said a 30-year-old man was arrested and allegedly tested positive for both alcohol and drugs.
Mr O’Kane – known to his friends as ‘Swanny’ – was a regular visitor to Ireland as his father Martin was originally from Derry.
A Crowdfunding page was set up by Fiona O’Riordan to pay for the cost of flying Adrian’s remains back to Birmingham.
A target was set at £8,000.
But there has been a huge outpouring of generosity from across the Irish community and the construction industry that the money raised is now well over £25,000 and counting.
Fiona said on the Crowdfunding Page: “Our family is overwhelmed by the tremendous support both financial, physically & emotionally we are receiving from far & wide.
“Words can’t express the magnitude of loss we feel & know that you are all as heartbroken as us.
“We’re flying out to bring him home on Fri.
“We thank everyone for your kind words and support that just shows how loved Adrian was and will enable us to give him the send off he would wish for.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Mary, Steph, Sonia, Leanne, Loz, Eimear, Aoife & Aisling.”
A spokeswoman for Calvia Council in Majorca said: “The person who died has been identified as a British tourist who had arrived yesterday with a group of people to spend the weekend here.
“About 3am this morning, he was knocked down and killed in Pinada Street in Magaluf.
“The driver of the vehicle involved, who is Spanish has been arrested for manslaughter and for driving under the influence of alcohol.
“He failed both drink and drugs tests.
“The vehicle was apparently seen being driven aggressively through the streets of Magaluf just beforehand.”
The unnamed Spaniard has faced an investigating magistrate in a private court hearing following the death by dangerous driving crash.
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