Former Presbyterian moderator and ‘significant evangelist’ dies aged 82

Co Armagh native Rev David McGaughey spent 30 years as minister of Mourne Presbyterian in Kilkeel before retiring in October 2003.

It is understood that Rev McGaughey – who served as moderator between 1994 and 1995 – died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson got to know the long-serving clergyman well during the early days of his ministry in Kilkeel.

“These were dark days for Northern Ireland and Dr McGaughey was a great pastor for this large congregation at a time of much instability,” the DUP MP said.

“During his time in Kilkeel, he conducted a number of funerals of civilians, police officers and UDR soldiers, including comrades I had served with from the Mourne area, who were murdered by the IRA.

“The strength of his Christian faith always shone through on such occasions and the support he provided for families devastated by grief was of enormous help and comfort to so many within and across the community.

“The Mourne community was so proud to see David become moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and he provided strong spiritual leadership to the church during his year in office.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anne and family circle in this their time of great loss.”

Ordained in December 1965, Rev McGaughey’s first official role was as an assistant at Railway Presbyterian in Lisburn where he spent three years before becoming minister for the Castledawson and Curran congregations in Co Londonderry.

He moved to Kilkeel in September 1973 and was elected moderator in 1994.

In 2005, Rev McGaughey was nominated by the DUP as their choice of clergyman to witness the decommissioning of IRA weapons.

At the time, a report in The Times newspaper described the minister as being “noted for his hardline views”.

In the same article a DUP source is quoted as saying Rev McGaughey would be the most appropriate Protestant clergyman, along with a Catholic representative, to witness arms being put beyond use, however, he was not appointed by the decommissioning body.

“If they [Independent International Commission on Decommissioning] are serious about building confidence in the unionist community with this gesture then they will take our nominee instead of one of their own,” the DUP source is quoted as saying.

Former Ulster Unionst MLA Danny Kennedy has also paid tribute to Rev McGaughey as someone who was “loved and almost revered” within the church.

“He was a very significant figure in the Presbyterian Church,” Mr Kennedy said.

“He was greatly loved, and almost revered, because he was a very faithful pastor to his people in times of sadness and sickness. A man dedicated to their spiritual needs.”

“He was also a very significant evangelist who conducted a great many missions throughout Northern Ireland, and he was a very strong exponent of the Gospel.”

Mr Kennedy added: “I think is passing is a great loss to his family especially, but also to the Presbyterian Church generally, and many people will be saddened because of the Christian influence he exerted in their personal lives.”

Rev McGaughey retired from ministry in October 2003 and moved from Kilkeel to Tullyallen, near Markethill in Co Armagh with wife Anne.

A notice on the funeraltimes.com website said the father-of-three passed away at his home on the Tullyallen Road, Glenanne.

Rev McGaughey is described as the “dearly loved and devoted husband of Anne, much loved father of Lynn, David, Hilary and Jane, dear father-in-law of Richard, Gavin and Glenn. Loving grandfather, brother and friend”.

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