Tributes paid to scrambler-death mum Valerie Armstrong
Countless tributes have been paid on social media to tragic mother-of-three Valerie Armstrong who died after being hit by a scrambler in Colin Glen park on Tuesday.
Mrs Armstrong, from Poleglass in west Belfast, had been out walking her dog when she was injured.
On Facebook Cafe Vaudeville - where Mrs Armstrong had worked - posted: “It is with heavy hearts that all of us at Cafe Vaudeville have taken the news of our friend and colleague Valerie Armstrong’s tragic death.”
The post added that “the outpouring of shock, love & sympathy we have received from past & present staff, customers & well wishers” was a testament to “the wonderful person, wife and mother” she was.
In another Facebook post Leah McCourt said: “no words - could have been anyone of my team mates, always running the steps and in Colin Glen”.
Today a gofundme page was started to raise money for ‘The Armstrong family’.
A message from page founder Chris Armour says he has set up the page “so we as friends, family, our community and people who just want to help out during this sad time can help raise some funds for her husband and 3 very young kids”.
“We cant make them feel any better about the sad passing of their young wife and mother but we can help this poor family out by taking the financial burden of their shoulders for a while,” the message adds. “So please help us out and donate as much as you can spare, no matter how little it is I’m sure it will go a long way for the Armstrong’s.”
Earlier today Father Vincent Cushnahan, from the Nativity parish in Poleglass, said her death was a “tremendous tragedy.”
The cleric also revealed that her family were respecting her wishes to donate her organs.
“Her family are going to respect her wishes to donate her organs, in order to give life to other people, so out of this tragedy will come life,” he said.
Fr Cushnahan also told BBC her death “has wrenched a young mother, a young wife, from her children, her husband and the local community”.
“Three young children, the eldest son being nine years of age and two younger daughters who will find it very difficult to grow up without their mother in their lives,” he said.
Mrs Armstrong who was in her mid thirties was originally from Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath.
She was married to Seamus and the couple have three children, Dylan, Lucy and Sophie-Belle.