Major farming figure who witnessed both Enniskillen and Omagh atrocities first-hand dies

Derek Quinton, 69, brother of Aileen Quinton, was a former police reservist and a well-known figure in the farming world, serving as director of the County Fermanagh Farming Society from 2004 to 2015.

He had latterly been living in a home and suffered a fall; when he went to hospital for an operation, he went on to succumb to pneumonia and breathing problems.

He died on Thursday at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

He was son of George and Alberta, the latter of whom was among the 12 people murdered by the IRA in the 1987 Poppy Day bombing.

He was parking his car when the bomb went off. He can be seen searching amid the smoke and chaos in footage of the atrocity.

He worked for the Roads Service, and by coincidence also happened to be on the scene of the aftermath of the Omagh bombing 11 years later, which killed 29 people (plus unborn twins).

Brothers Ian and Christopher predeceased him.

Aileen described him as a man with an “infectious chuckle” and “sharp sense of humour”, who “took service very seriously, but didn’t take himself seriously”.

He was “very quiet, very unassuming”.

She praised those who had treated him, saying: “The care that he got was amazing.

“He was very content, he was not in any pain, and he was actually in good form.”

His funeral service today will be private.

But he will be cremated and a committal service for his remains will be staged at a later date “when the world opens up”, in order to “do him proper credit”.

The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) said: “Derek was a character alike each of the Quintons and will be sadly missed by many including; the Agriculture fraternity given his prominent and leading role within The Fermanagh County Show scene over several decades and the Young Farmers Clubs (Garvary but well beyond, indeed right across Europe).

“Over the years there are people like Ann Orr who have been at his side and have cared for him unconditionally.

“Derek will also be remembered by many within Policing circles, he was viewed as a solid, caring Policeman who went about his duties in a manner where service to the community was always his driving force.

“Derek experienced much trauma in his life; in losing his father George, in having his mother stolen away to Provisional IRA terrorism when she along with 10 others were murdered on 8th November 1987 via The Enniskillen Poppy Day bomb (with a 12th passing away in 2000 after being in a coma for 13 years – former school master Ronnie Hill).

“Derek was present in Enniskillen that day, he was also present with the events of Omagh and witnessed a number of other incidents through his police service – yet despite the multiple exposures to trauma Derek experienced, he never identified with the term ‘victim’.

“He tried in his own way to carry on his life although without question, he will have been dealing with inner turmoil.

“But when asked if he ever needed anything, he’d always respond; ‘No there are people who need it more than me.’”

The SEFF statement added that: “In circumstances where there were not restrictions brought about by Covid, Garvary Church of Ireland (where Derek will be buried) could not possibly facilitate all those who would wish to attend his funeral; of course, we are living very different times...

“Derek was a character, many loved and respected him and we are saddened that your time in this life has now come to its’ end.

“We pray that Derek is now seated with our Father in Heaven.

“May God place His comfort blanket around all those who mourn his passing; sister Aileen, Derek’s cousins who have been part of his life over the years and who have cared for and shown love for him and all those ordinary, yet extraordinary friends that he was blessed to have down the years.”

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