Fifty-four-year-old Conal McGeehan was found dead at noon on Sunday under his quad on a hill in a very remote area at Derryhinny, Doochary by his brother and a neighbour.

The community of Doochary was said to be numb and in shock at the circumstances of the death of the popular farmer who was known to act as an "uncertified vet" to households in the area.

The eldest of a family of five, Mr. McGeehan lived with a younger brother on the farm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and it is believed he left his home on Thursday evening. Donegal Mountain Rescue was called to help with removal of the remains due to the remoteness of the scene.

A post mortem was carried out yesterday morning at Letterkenny General Hospital and a full investigation was underway. Inspector Sylvie Henry of Glenties Garda Station said the death appeared to be the result of a tragic accident.

Parish priest Fr. Eamonn McLaughlin said Mr. McGeehan was a "very good natured man" and "a very gentle soul" who was "extremely helpful to everybody".

"Anyone who was in any difficulty with animals would have called upon him. The one thing that they would say about him was that he was extremely helpful to everybody. He was one of those people who was just so well got in the community," he said.

"He had an excellent knowledge of animals and was known far and wide in Fintown, Glenties and Dungloe. The community is just in awful shock, devastated because he was well-known. He was a man with an uncommon characteristic, which was common sense.

"The community is just numb and devastated and very upset. I have had
calls all morning and people are traumatised by it."
Fr. McLaughlin said the closeness of the community was shown by people
coming to help to maintain the farm after Mr. McGeehan's death.

"This is a very very close community and nowhere was the strength of the community of rural Ireland more evident than it was here yesterday.
"There is shock and numbness and because it is such a close-knit community. Everyone is in mourning with the family, it is a community in mourning."

Mr. McGeehan's remains will be removed from McGlynns Funeral Home, Dungloe at 7pm this evening going to St Bridget's Church, Lettermacaward for 7.30pm. Requiem Mass will take place at St. Brigid's at 11 am on Wednesday.