James McAllister collapsed at the side of his wife Kathleen’s grave as a Northern Ireland Assembly member says his death is a "devastating blow for the community"
A family faced double tragedy after a man in his 70s died at his wife's funeral .
James McAllister collapsed at the side of his wife Kathleen’s grave in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
He was reportedly shaking hands with other mourners when he took ill.
Kathleen died on Monday, the Irish News reported .
Father Luke McWilliams, the priest at Mrs McAlister's funeral, said the community has been left in “shock”, adding: “Naturally it was just a big shock."
Mr McAlister, a former Rivers Agency worker, was at St Mary's Church, Cushendall, County Antrim, when he collapsed.
Aidan McAteer, chairman of the Ruairi Og hurling club, with which Mr McAllister was strongly associated, paid tribute.
He said Mr McAllister was "great company, a great raconteur, a great story-teller".
Oliver McMullan, a Sinn Fein member of the Northern Irish Assembly, who was at the funeral, said: "He was very, very well known within the Glens and further afield.
“They were always part of the community and the first to be there if there was anything to be done in the hurling club.
“That's the type of community the Glens is, close-knit, and it's a devastating blow for the community.”
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