Former flat jockey Paddy Donaghy died in hospital following an alleged assault by his older brother at a house six days earlier, with tributes paid to the “dearly loved” star
Former jockey Paddy Donaghy has died aged 39 after an alleged attack by his older brother just days earlier.
Donaghy, who died in hospital on Sunday, starred in British Flat racing from 2005 to 2014, securing more than 60 victories during a career which saw him regularly ride for northern England trainers Pat Haslam and Jedd O’Keeffe.
He passed away in hospital following an incident at a property in the Stratheden Heights area of the County Down town of Newtownards on Monday, September 7. His brother, Joseph Donaghy, 46, appeared before Newtownards Magistrates’ Court last week charged with causing grievous bodily harm in relation to the incident, reports the Irish Mirror.
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Magistrates heard there was “a physical altercation” between the brothers after returning from a funeral that day, according to the Court News NI.
The victim’s legal team described the proceedings as a “one-punch case”. The defence lawyer said: “I have been asked by the defendant to say he is absolutely grief-stricken by what has unravelled.”
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have declined to provide additional details concerning the nature of the incident or how the former jockey was hospitalised.
The probe into his death, which happened six days after the incident at the residence, was confirmed by the PSNI on Monday, September 14.
A statement from the PSNI said: “Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man aged in his thirties.
“The man died in hospital on Sunday, following an incident at a house in Stratheden Heights, Newtownards, on September 7. There are no further details at this time.”
The racing star’s season best came with a huge 18 in 2008, when he also amassed his largest prize-money spoils of £87,810. Middleham-based trainer Haslam watched on a Donaghy rode 15 of his winners, and for Leyburn trainer O’Keeffe he was aboard another eight.
His final race was at Wolverhampton in October 2014 and the last of his 63 victories came aboard a horse called Hamble at Lingfield in June, 2014.
A death notice for Donaghy published on Funeral Times stated: “Peacefully in hospital. Late of Stratheden Heights, Newtownards. Dearly loved son of John and Sarah Donaghy. Much loved brother of Joseph, Brona and her husband Simon, and Sarah. A loving and devoted father of Lennon, a dear uncle to his many nieces and nephews. RIP.
“Service in St Patrick’s Parish Church, North Street, Newtownards on Friday 18th September at 11am, followed by committal in Movilla Cemetery. House Strictly Private Family Only.
“Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to ICU Ulster Hospital may be made online at https://sclarkeandson.co.uk/donate. Or cheques payable to SEH and SCTrust. Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by the entire family circle.”