Family suffer another tragedy abroad as Angus man dies on holiday in Turkey

The Angus family who won a high-profile court battle to bury a Black Watch soldier has suffered further tragedy abroad.

Forfar man David Hoggan was on a family holiday to Turkey when he died on June 22.

His wife Laura, daughter Stacy and sons Adam and Ross were celebrating the end of a three-year court struggle over the right to bury the body of Private Mark Connolly in Forfar.

Stacy Connolly had fought against the soldier’s mother over where his body was to be repatriated since his death in Germany in 2011.

Sheriff Valerie Johnston’s judgement, decreeing in favour of the widow, was issued at Forfar Sheriff Court on June 20, only two days before Mr Hoggan’s sudden death.

Mr Hoggan’s funeral will be held at Parkgrove Crematorim in Friockheim on Wednesday, with donations going to the special care baby unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

The former Apache North Sea employee, known as Dave, was described by colleagues as a “thoroughly decent, hard working man” who will be missed.

Mr Hoggan’s family were too upset to speak when approached by The Courier in Forfar.