Family of dead Britain's Got Talent star, 18, hit with triple tragedy in agonising twist

star has passed away, in what marks the third tragic loss for his devastated family.

The 18-year-old, who auditioned as part of the in 2017, suffered fatal injuries in a horror car crash in the early hours of Saturday, April 5. Just six weeks earlier, on February 21, Oran's family lost his father, in what has been described as an "untimely passing".

Affectionately referred to as 'Wee Paddy', was a talented Gaelic footballer whose sad passing sparked tributes from his fellow club members at Drumgath GAC, with the club hailing him as "one of life’s gentlemen". In a heartfelt statement, Drumgath GAC remarked that Paddy and wife Amanda always made sure to attend their children's games, where they would cheer them on proudly.

The "brilliant forward" is remembered as "an integral part of Clonduff teams and also of a St Marks team that won an All-Ireland U16 title". The club also warmly recalled Paddy would always "lend a willing hand around the club", from running a BBQ at tournaments to helping out with electrics at the last minute. They wrote: "Nothing was ever a bother to Paddy."

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Paying tribute to her late husband, Amanda described Paddy as an "amazing husband and father".

These two recent tragedies come 16 years after the death of Oran's older sister Rachael, who was knocked down while crossing the road in 2009. She was just 11 years old at the time.

Like her younger brother, who was just three years old at the time, Rachael sang in her primary school's choir, and her fellow singers would later pay tribute to her at her funeral.

In an interview with the , Father Stephen Ferris, who had been with the McConville family when Rachael passed away, described the local community of Rathfrilandas being in shock.

The priest said: “Rachael was a happy child. She was intelligent and talented. She loved her family and her friends, and she had tremendous potential. She was living life and enjoying it to the full. Her death has traumatised our close-knit country parish; it has numbed everyone.”

In 2017, mum Amanda wrote about her family's grief journey in 'My Beautiful Daughter, My Beautiful Friend', which she followed with the sequels Rachael's Rainbow: Never Give Up On Your Dreams (2018) and Time To Change (2020).

Speaking at Oran's Requiem Mass in Drumgath, County Down, parish priest Father Charles Byrne also spoke about the sad losses of Paddy and Rachael. He told the congregation: "Oran's tragic death early on Saturday morning has brought devastating shock and grief to his family, to his friends, to our local community here and the wider community around it.

"As we all know, just six weeks ago, we were here for Oran's father, Paddy and 16 years ago, you had the death of young Rachael. At this time we are all lost for words. Words are woefully inadequate to express the pain and the sorrow in our hearts that we have for you."

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