![\"Ian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/556102119_1588729405780455_6390819910098297011_n.jpg\")
Ian Milne was one of Northern Ireland\u2019s leading undertakers(Image: Milne Funeral Services)<\/p>\nIan Milne, who was a former police officer, established the business 25 years ago.Ian Milne was one of Northern Ireland\u2019s leading undertakers(Image: Milne Funeral Services)<\/p>\n
The Deputy First Minister has led tributes to a well-known and highly respected Northern Ireland<\/a> undertaker following his sudden death at the weekend<\/p>\n The sudden death of Ian Milne, 64, was announced on Sunday evening. Mr Milne, of Ian Milne Funeral Services, had funeral homes in Portadown<\/a>, Lurgan<\/a> and Banbridge. Mr Milne, who was a former police officer, established the business 25 years ago.<\/p>\n His family said his sudden death at home in Banbridge<\/a> on Sunday was \u201cdeeply regretted\u201d.<\/p>\n READ MORE: ‘Our lives are changed forever’ – Councillor leads tributes after young son’s death<\/a>READ MORE: Tributes to ‘much loved’ Co Tyrone primary school teacher after death<\/a><\/p>\n A post on the Ian Milne Funeral Services Facebook page confirmed his passing: “With extremely heavy hearts we share the tragic news of Ian’s passing. He has many friends and we are so sorry we couldn’t speak personally to more of you,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cFuneral arrangements later. Very deeply regretted and sadly missed by the entire family<\/a>. What a friend we have in Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n Among those paying tribute was Deputy First Minister and Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly<\/a>, who said: “Really sad news this evening of the sudden passing of Ian. My deepest condolences to all the family and friends of Ian. So many will be shocked by this sad news.<\/p>\n “Ian’s professionalism, kindness and empathy at the very worst and saddest of times in the lives of so many throughout the community was so deeply appreciated by many, many families. May the Lord comfort his family at this time of mourning and grief.<\/p>\n Her party colleague, the DUP<\/a> MLA Jonathan Buckley, also paid tribute to Mr Milne: “This news has come as a real shock. Ian was a huge personality in our town. He called with me regularly and helped so many people in their times of need, often going above and beyond. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Milne family.”<\/p>\n Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart revealed that she had been in contact with Mr Milne just hours before his death: “You really don\u2019t know the day or the hour. At 4.10pm today I received the last message I will ever receive from Ian Milne. He and I over the weekend had spoken three times as he helped families navigate some difficulties in their own grief journey.<\/p>\n “Little did we know this would be the last. My thoughts are with the Milne family and especially the boys as they now walk the path they have helped so many with. Ian was very well known, always the gentleman and very encouraging to me personally.<\/p>\n “He put his heart and soul into his business and I know tonight many will be shocked and saddened. It teaches all that life is but a vapour and it is only what is done for Christ will last. Devastating for the family and the local community.”<\/p>\n Party colleague Diane Dodds also paid tribute to Mr Milne: “A real shock tonight to learn this sad news. Ian was very well known in our area. Recently Ian called into my office and was great chat as always.<\/p>\n “My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Milne family. We know not the hour!”<\/p>\n For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage <\/strong>here<\/a> and sign up to our daily newsletter<\/a> here.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ian Milne, who was a former police officer, established the business 25 years ago.Ian Milne was one of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":460339,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[144635,80374,88580,6408,922,390,1621,1144,73832,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-460338","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-banbridge","9":"tag-co-armagh","10":"tag-co-down","11":"tag-dup","12":"tag-emma-little-pengelly","13":"tag-family","14":"tag-lurgan","15":"tag-northern-ireland","16":"tag-portadown","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115287463866719289","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=460338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/460338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/460339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=460338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=460338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=460338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}