Jack Oliver: Body of NI rider that died in Kells Road Races escorted home with motorbike convoy

The remains of Northern Irish rider Jack Oliver have been escorted home by dozens of motorbikes following his death at the weekend.

The 22-year-old died at the Kells Road Races in Co Meath, after he came off his Kawasaki motorbike in the Supersport race at the Crossakiel circuit.

On Thursday afternoon, dozens of motorbikes escorted Mr Oliver's hearse, which bore a red flower arrangement that spelled out "Wee Jacko", from Navan, Co Meath to his home in Limavady.

The bike escort met at Dillonsland at 1.30pm, and escort the hearse to Dundalk where more bikers and friends of Mr Oliver joined the procession.

It then travelled to Newry, Belfast and Dungiven, and was on its way to Mr Oliver's home in Limavady last night.

Jack’s family posted an emotional video to Facebook in which they asked mourners to “give them some space” to be alone with their loved one before arriving to their house.

"We are going today to bring him home on his last wee journey,” Mr Oliver’s father Tommy says in the clip.

"We’re all broken-hearted. Please just give us a wee bit of space tonight and everybody is more than welcome tomorrow and Saturday to say their wee farewells. 

"You all know what sort of wee guy he was. He loved what he was doing. He was on top of the world.”

He also thanked everyone for “all their wee kind messages about Jack”.

“There’s a group of bikers joining [the escort] at the bottom of Glenshane and at the chapel at Dungiven,” Jack’s brother Robbie added.

The tragic news of his death was confirmed on Sunday, with his brother saying he died “doing what he loved”.

North West 200 race chief Mervyn Whyte, who hails from Limavady, said Jack was “an up and coming star”.

Jack had earlier finished as the runner-up in the Junior Support race and 10th in the Senior Support event at last week’s Kells Road Races. 

The event at the Crossakiel circuit was the first national road race meeting in the Republic of Ireland since 2019, with large crowds anticipated.

All the high-profile riders were expected to be home from the Isle of Man TT.

Jack had qualified second in the Junior Support and Lightweight 250/400 categories on Saturday and third in the Super Twins.

In another post on social media, Jack’s father Tommy said: “I’m totally broken. I can’t cope with this. Always in my heart forever son, love you forever.”

Mr Oliver's funeral will be held at 2pm on Sunday in Carrick Parish Church, followed by a burial in Enagh Cemetery at 3pm.