Michael McGoldrick, who died in Moldova on April 3rd, was an ordinary father, as he often said himself, whose life turned upside down when loyalist paramilitaries killed his son, also Michael. Michael snr became an apostle of forgiveness and, in recent years, a charity worker in eastern Europe. He suddenly became ill while delivering supplies in Moldova with his wife Bridie, and died three months before the 10th anniversary of his son's murder.
That was the first of several deaths in July 1996 during violence sparked by the controversial Orange march at Drumcree, near Portadown, Co Armagh. A 31-year-old mature student who hoped to become a teacher, Michael McGoldrick jnr drove a taxi at weekends.
He graduated from Queen's University Belfast, on the Friday, picked up a fare late on the Sunday night at a loyalist bar and was found early the following morning on a lonely road near Aghalee, Co Armagh, slumped over the wheel of his cab, shot twice in the back on the head.
His parents were on holiday in Warren- point, Co Down, when they saw a news flash on television about the death. His father said later: "It was our only son, our only child. I ran out of the caravan. I remember going down on my knees and hitting the ground with my fists."
He left a seven-year-old daughter, who carried his degree parchment to the altar during his funeral as a thanksgiving offering, and a widow, Sadie, pregnant with their second child. After the funeral, with tensions still high, McGoldrick appealed to Catholics not to retaliate and was televised saying to both communities: "Bury your pride with my boy. To those who've done this, I and my family forgive you."
Security forces attributed the killing to UVF members who later formed the splinter Loyalist Volunteer Force to oppose ceasefires, and said prominent local paramilitary figure Billy Wright had been involved. Wright's notoriety, the furore when the Drumcree march was allowed through, and the circumstances of Michael McGoldrick's death all contributed to put Michael snr, and his offer of forgiveness, under a spotlight.
He said much later that his son's murder showed him the evil there was in Northern Ireland and made him want "to turn my life into something good, something positive".
He attended many inter-faith meetings on forgiveness, and with Bridie and others he established the group United Christian Aid to bring books, food and computers to orphanages and schools in Moldova.
He had emergency surgery there three weeks ago following severe abdominal pain but suffered complications and died shortly afterwards.
He was buried in his home town of Lurgan on April 11th after a Mass during which a Moldovan flag was placed on his coffin. Former Presbyterian moderator the Rev Ken Newell said that by reaching out to another part of the world, Michael had inspired people to build bridges of peace.
Local UUP councillor Meta Crozier said everyone "respected the man and how he reacted after his son's murder".
He is survived by his wife Bridie, daughter-in-law Sadie and grandchildren Emma and Andrew.
Michael McGoldrick: born 1942; died April 3rd, 2006.