Three children have sadly been left orphaned after their football coach father died only five months after his wife following a brief illness.
Caoimhe, 19, Fionn, 15, and their younger sister Teagan have been left without parents after the death of their Royal Army Medical Service warrant officer, Guy McFadden-Newman.
The ‘loving’ father and ‘beloved’ husband died surrounded by his children and wider family in hospital on July 30, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
His ‘dearly loved’ wife and the mother of his children, Lieutenant Colonel Kerry McFadden-Newman, passed away just five months before on February 24, 2025.
Guy coached local football team, Portrush FC Youths, for nearly a decade, who described him as a ‘real gentleman’, a ‘good friend’, and a ‘very well-respected and dedicated coach’.
The ‘absolutely devastated, shocked and heartbroken’ club said in a statement: ‘Everyone at Portrush FC Youths wish to offer their sincerest sympathy and condolences to Caoimhe, Fionn and Teagan and the wider family circle at this very sad and difficult time.
‘Guy was a very well respected and dedicated coach at Portrush FC Youths for almost 10 years with his son Fionn and later with his daughter Teagan who both played for the club
‘Guy was a real gentleman and a good friend to many. He was always first to step up and offer assistance to anyone needing help at the club.
‘Loving’ father and ‘beloved’ husband, Guy McFadden-Newman, died surrounded by his children and wider family in hospital on July 30, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland
His ‘dearly loved’ wife and the mother of his children, Lieutenant Colonel Kerry McFadden-Newman, passed away just five before on February 24, 2025
‘Nothing was too much bother for Guy, he always had a smile on his face, loved his role as a coach at the club, always showed a great example to all the kids he coached over his many years at the club and made many good friends through the club.
‘Guy will be sadly missed by all that had the good fortune to know him.’
Adding how their hearts go out to Guy and Kerry’s children, who tragically lost both parents in a short amount of time, they said: ‘RIP Guy and Kerry who will now be reunited and together forever.’
A local theatre, where the family regularly participated, also released a touching tribute to the father, who was ‘a quiet part of the panto family’.
‘We are shocked and saddened at the loss of our friend, Guy McFadden-Newman. It comes too soon after the loss of our Kerry and our hearts go out to Caoimhe, Fionn, Teagan and the wider family circle,’ the statement read.
‘Guy has been a quiet part of our panto family since we began, usually being volunteered by Kerry for a role or two backstage and supporting her and the kids while they took to the boards.
‘Although he might try and convince others that he was coerced, he did it all with a smile on his face and we loved having him involved.
‘Family is at the heart of what we do in panto and there is no other family that has put quite so much into it.’