TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Lincolnshire Irishman after he was tragically murdered.
Darren Munnelly, 46, was found fatally injured at a property on Carr Street in Lincoln in the early hours of Sunday, July 26.
Mr Munnelly, whose grandparents Patrick and Kate Munnelly emigrated from Doohoma, Co. Mayo to Lincolnshire in the 1940s, was described as the Lincolnshire Irish community’s “rarest jewel”.
'Simply the best'
“Everyone’s life was richer for knowing Darren,” his family told The Irish Post.
“The Irish community in Lincoln have lost their rarest jewel. He was simply the best.
“He did all the baking of soda bread for all the community in Lincoln during lockdown. Darren was a very sociable person.”
Mr Munnelly, a former student of St Peter and St Paul Roman Catholic School in Lincoln, loved Irish and country music and played bodhrán, guitar and Jew’s harp.
A very talented singer, he often sang in his local pub, the Queen in the West, and attended the Pontins Southport Irish Festival every year for 19 years.
The passionate Manchester United fan was also a skilled snooker player, winning several titles including the Junior Championship of Lincoln two years in a row.
'Generous and thoughtful'
In a separate statement released through Lincolnshire Police, Mr Munnelly's family described how the self-employed ground worker was a popular figure in the community, always putting others before himself.
“Darren was such a friendly, popular and sociable man who was so kind to others,” they said.
“He was a really enthusiastic cook, and he put this to good use at the start of the pandemic.
“With so many people forced to remain in their own homes, Darren would cook a variety of things — curries, cottage pies, Irish soda bread, muffins — and then deliver them himself across Lincoln to help people out.
“He never told anyone he was doing it, but wanted it to be a surprise.
“After cooking the food, he’d put it in a backpack, get on his bike and deliver it.
“That was the mark of him — so generous, and so thoughtful to other people, such as in October 2017 when he raised £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support by completing Go Sober for October.”
'Proud of Irish roots'
They added: “He was also so proud of his Irish roots.
“Since Darren’s death, the support we’ve received from the local community has been amazing with so many cards, text messages and flowers.
“We’d like to say thank-you to everyone for their generosity, love and support.
“We’d also particularly like to thank those from Lincolnshire Police, Lincoln County Hospital, the paramedics who initially treated him, Victim Support and Father John Kyne.
“You have all supported us so much.
“Darren will always be missed. He was irreplaceable.”
Mr Munnelly is survived by his parents William and Karen, sister Cheryl and sons Sean and Jack.
Declan Grant, 22, of St Mary's Street, Lincoln, has appeared at the city's Crown Court charged with Mr Munnelly’s murder.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear again before the Crown Court on August 31.
