THERE is huge sadness in Donegal following the death of a Gaoth Dobhair  doctor who founded The Foyle Hospice in Derry.

Dr Tom McGinley, who passed away on Thursday, has been described as a “visionary”.

He founded the palliative care centre after being moved by a  visit to an 18-year-old man who was dying of terminal cancer.

In a statement, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, said Dr McGinley was a man of vision.

“I never had the pleasure or the privilege of meeting Tom or of getting to know him, but I certainly know of his achievements.

“Tom was a man of vision; more importantly, he was a man of action, who used his considerable gifts for the benefit of all. When he first conceived of the Foyle Hospice, many years ago, it seemed almost unimaginable. Now, it is an indispensable part of the fabric of this community.

“The Foyle Hospice is a wonderful and tangible monument to a great man, but the enduring gratitude of this whole community will prove an equally significant part of Dr McGinley’s towering legacy.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Chairperson of Foyle Hospice,  Mrs Angela McIntrye said Dr McGinley’s legacy will live on.

 “It is a very sad day for the Foyle Hospice, the hospice was Tom’s dream as a result of caring for a young patent. The opening of the hospice over the years made a huge contribution to the lives of thousands of people in this city an the wider North West area.

“We are honoured to continue his legacy of caring for our patients and their families.”

Dr McGinley was a colleague and mentor o staff over the years, as well as a friend and confidante to many patients and families of the Foyle Hospice since its establishment of a homecare team in 1985. The 12-bedded in-patient unit opened on June 21, 1991. The Day Centre opened in 2001.

Sympathy was extended to Dr McGinley’s children, Ciaran, Aisling, Ronan, Sinead, and wider family circle.