AN independent councillor on Banbridge District Council in Co Down collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack yesterday during a hoax bomb alert, apparently by loyalists.
Mr Larry McCartan (79), a father of five from Laurencetown, had served on the council for over 24 years. He and his wife, Mary, were among around 200 people evacuated from their homes after a telephone warning that a bomb had been planted in the village.
A male caller claiming to represent a previously unknown loyalist group said that devices had also been left in Portadown and Hilltown.
Controlled explosions were carried out at the three locations but all the devices were found to be elaborate hoaxes.
During the alert, Mr McCartan and his wife went to St Colman's Catholic Church in the village. The local sub postmaster, Mr Eamon Campbell, brought the couple inside. "My wife had just started to make tea when Larry collapsed and died. We believe he took a massive heart attack. He had suffered one previously. The police, a doctor and the cardiac ambulance people did all they, could for him but he couldn't be saved," Mr Campbell said.
The bomb alert "would not have helped matters", he added.