A former president of a Cork rugby club died in a Canadian hospital yesterday, just over a week after he was injured in a hit-and-run incident.
Dolphin Rugby Football Club said it was with regret, that it heard of the death of its official, Mr Val Murphy (69), who had travelled to Montreal with the club on a 40-strong club tour of Canada.
"Everybody is devastated at the news. Val was a popular guy, who was a regular attendant at all the games from minor to senior. He'll be sorely missed," a spokesman for the club, Mr Donie Daly said.
The Cork man was involved in rugby all his life, from his earlier playing days to being a referee, and until his death as a fixtures secretary for the club. Mr Murphy, from Rochestown, and club secretary, Mr Michael O'Riordan (53), from Carrigrohane, Co Cork, were returning from a function when they were hit by a speeding BMW outside Concordia University on June 8th.
The car sped away and members of the Montreal Irish RFC division who witnessed the accident, called an ambulance.
Both men were rushed to hospital where Mr Murphy underwent neuro-surgery early last week. His friend was discharged from hospital suffering rib injuries. Mr Murphy's wife and three children immediately flew to Montreal where they kept a vigil at his bedside, until his death in the early hours of yesterday morning. The 21 year-old driver of the BMW and three of the passengers turned themselves in to police after they heard reports of the incident in the media.