“IT IS so sad that a man reaches this hour of his life only to be taken in this way” Emyvale priest Fr Cathal Deery said in his heartfelt homily to much loved Monaghan pensioner and father of six, Matt Skinnader.

In a devastating tragedy the popular 87-year-old was struck by a lorry on Main St, Emyvale on Friday past and died later that evening in the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

The late Mr Skinnader was one of 13 people who lost their lives in the past seven days - marking one of the blackest weeks on Irish roads.

“He lived for his family and was a religious man,” Fr Deery told the huge congregation who packed the Holy Family Church in Ballyoisin to bid farewell to Matt at his funeral Mass on Monday morning.

The priest also remarked how Matt had only got a passport a few years ago and had since travelled on a number of holidays around Europe. In fact Matt had another trip planned before he was so tragically killed on Friday.

The death of Matt, who will fondly be remembered as “a gentleman”, has left the whole community in shock as he so well known and liked.

Matt worked for many years for Monaghan County Council and his popularity was evident by the many staff, past and present, who attended the funeral.

He was laid to rest in the Holy Family Church Cemetery.