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FRIENDS OF A young Irish man who was killed in a hit-and-run in the UK last week have asked Aston Villa Football Club to hold a minute silence in his honour on St Stephen’s Day.
Jody O’Reilly described himself as as “die-hard Villa fan” and had plans to go to go see his team take on Manchester United last Sunday at Villa Park. Tragically, he never made it. He was hit by a car in the early hours of the same morning on Broad Street in Birmingham.
Originally from Leixlip in county Kildare, the 22-year-old had moved to the UK to study PE at the University of Wolverhampton. He also worked as a duty manager at a British gym chain.
His friend, Paul Field, told TheJournal.ie that the campaign was launched as they want to fulfil his dream of having a minute silence at his beloved club when his time came.
“The coming together of the family and friends of those who knew Jody has truly been remarkable and we are currently on the right track to make the minutes silence happen,” he said.
“We are in contact with the right people but still need as much help as possible. We genuinely need all the help we can get for this amazing show of respect for an amazing person, to happen.”
The group has also asked for support for the grief-stricken family over the holiday period.
Currently, there are more than 10,000 members of the Facebook group and
Footballer Stan Collymore has joined the campaign, tweeting:
The Facebook page can be viewed here.
West Midlands Police arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the hit-and-run.
(YouTube: Stephen McQ)
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Jody was killed in exceptional and tragic circumstances the morning he was due to go to a match, ten days before Xmas and 8 days before he was due to move home to leixlip for good to his family, friends and his girlfriend after 4 years in college in England. He was a massive fan and as the circumstances of his death are what they are it would be an incredible tribute to a great person for villa to hold a minutes silence in his honour. Would mean the world to a lot of people!
Jody wasnt just a normal fan he was a die hard supporter, always spreading the word about anything aston villa, he was a season ticket holder and an absolute gentleman, this is a small thing to ask for that would mean alot to family and friends. RIP Jody. Never forgotten
While this argument may be true John, what is one minute of silence, it costs nothing, but means a lot to Joe’s family and friends.You should keep your insensitive comments to yourself. I wasn’t friends with Joe but I’m sure those who were close to him wouldn’ t appreciate your negativity.
Can’t just have a moment respect for every fan that dies.Devalues the whole idea of the minute in the first place . Im not being disrespectful to this fan, this is my view for all fans .
As big Jock Stein said ” Football is nothing! Without the fans!
But how many fans are tragically killed by a hit and run on the morning they are due to attend a match?
I hope it happens!
May I just say that the point of a minutes silence is to remember and respect those we have lost. Whether it is in a tragic accident or at war. Those who have past deserve to be remembered, and to think you would put a damper on something that is do important to the people who knew him is very disrespectful. The dislike button speaks for itself.
You had me at May.
Don’t be such a grouchy boll*cks your whole life. A truly unique and locally beloved young man was tragically killed and the people that knew and loved him are trying to do something memorable for him and all you have to say is “well they can’t do this for every fan that dies”.
Idiot. If you actually thought about this logically for more than 30 seconds before posting your ridiculously myopic point you would realised how stupid a thing that is to even think. Merry Christmas.
Good on you Mick.
Jock stein was right, soccer is nothing
Yes John but not every fan would have the amount of friends or people in their corner to take this to the level that it has been taken. It’s a testiment to how much this young man, who was unfairly killed, was loved and says a lot about the person he must have been and the loss he has left behind. RIP
John, please leave these pages for good. Hope this happens, and also in a time of inflated ticket prices and ridiculous wages, will be a great chance for clubs they do still care for the regular fan. I would love to see all the games have a minutes silence that day, simply in honour of fans, past and present…..
So I express a view you don’t like and you want to banish me. Grow up you waste a space
I think I speak for us all when I say that I wish you would comment no further with your insensitivity towards those who are carrying out such a remarkable task.
Your negativity, stubbornness and ignorance towards the feelings of others and towards this campaign as a whole are not welcomed here.
I would only ask that if you were to comment to keep in mind that people are mourning the loss of their friend/family member and need support.
Thanks.
No, you are an insensitive idiot. The village idiot I guess… Time to take a high road and just leave. Please. Will give you a green thumb on top of your own to go. My condolences too to the poor lads family and friends. As a dad to a lil 6 year old, I do have scary thoughts, and get it now. RIP…. Hes up there with some Villa greats, and can enjoy Villas European cup win again and again…
Minute silence and applause are for rear occasion to give respect to people who are known to the crowd, through a public image or act and was never intended for use to pay respect to everyday people (can’t think of a better wording) , tragic as it may be .And this is the orginal point I was making.How many fans have died all over the place in the last week.Thousands
What John is saying sounds insensitive but I would imagine that every club has hardcore, life long fans who pass away every week.
Thats fair enough, do understand your point, but this was not the place and time. My apologies too.
Are you serious? Absolute sap you are
Adda boy Tony!!!
Poor Lad. R.I.P
Heartbreaking to say the least.. hope villa pull through for him, fitting tribute.. rip jody
They dont do minutes silence anymore. Its a minutes applause so that a few morons chanting or shouting out dont ruin it.
A worthy cause no doubt. It would be a lovely gesture, but would undoubtably be marred by some idiots in the crowd. That’s why id be against it. Wouldn’t it be nice if the club wrote a piece about him in the match programme that day?
John Dee/Enda, theres a time and a place for nit-picking and trying to rile people up. Somebody has died, a family lost a son for Christ sake. Your comments are totally uncalled for, once again get it into your has, somebody has tragically DIED!!
If Astonvilla do a minutes silence well so be it, or would this offend you that bit more? Two bl**dy idiots with not a brain cell amongst you!
Not many villa fans would be backed by over 10,000 of their loved ones to support a cause. This was Jody’s dream, and not only to make him smile up there, it would mean the world to his family and friends who are unspeakably heartbroken right now. He made people’s dreams happen everyday purely by being the absolute diamond that he was, he had a heart of gold and was genuinely the funniest and most loyal human being I have ever met. He deserves the biggest send off because he was such a fantastic spirit who will be missed for many years to come. Please while we grieve for this tragic loss will you keep your mindless and insensitive comments to yourself… I guess you don’t see the logic in something like this happening as I doubt you have 10 friends with an attitude like that, let alone 10,000!! Try and enjoy your miserable Xmas!
Minute silence for a fan- oh dear god
With all due respect sir, we are trying to do something to remember our beloved friend. If you have nothing nice to say, I’d advise you to think carefully of what you will say or not to bother at all.
Have some respect for those who have passed, his family and friends will be reading this article, the last thing they need is disrespectful remarks about someone who we all miss dearly.
Thanks.
Well said Niall. May your friend rest in peace. Don’t allow the cynical bitter comments to affect his memory.
Enda you consistently come on here talking s**** & trolling. Do us all.a favour..long walk short pier yeh? You absolute t***
respect to Stan Collymore for requesting a minutes silence. Rest in peace Jody, my sincere condolences to his family.
Tragic, I’ll definitely be sharing this
I know Broad Street in Brum very well. It’s like a rat race at times with boy racers etc. lots of pubs and clubs along it too and nightmare crossing from one to the other with a view drinks. I’ve almost been hit twice on this road daytime and sober as an occasional visitor. My thoughts are with the family at this time and everytime I visit there from now on.
Enda I think 10,000 people who signed up to have the minutes silence will disagree with you, jody gentleman !
Rest in peace Jody, john we dont need you on this page Rose Cunningham.
MINUTE SILENCE FOR JODY ,PLEASE
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