Tributes To Murdered Leeds Hostage

12 March 2013, 10:38 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

The Leeds construction worker apparently killed by terrorists in Nigeria was denied the chance to meet his first grandchild, his family said.

55 year old Brendan Vaughan, was due to become a granddad with the birth in the family of a baby girl in May but the “loveable rogue” never had the chance.

The British national is believed to have been murdered - with six other foreigners - at the hands of captors on Sunday.

Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the likely killing as “cold-blooded murder” and said he would work with the Nigerian government to bring those behind the attack to account.

The family of Mr Vaughan, who was from Rothwell, Leeds, said he was a man who “lived his life to the full”.

In a statement released through the Foreign Office (FCO), they said: “The family of Brendan Vaughan aged 55 from Rothwell, Leeds are obviously shocked and saddened by recent events.

“Brendan, best described as a lovable rogue by everyone who knew him, lived his life to the full and on his own terms.

“He was a loved Father, Brother and Fiancé who was tragically killed on March 10th 2013. He has been deprived of meeting his first grandchild, a baby girl to be born in May, Brendan may be gone but will be never forgotten.”

Those kidnapped included three Lebanese citizens and one each from Britain, Greece, Italy and the Philippines - all employees of Setraco, a Lebanese construction company with an operation in Bauchi state, local officials said at the time.

A message from Ansaru, the extremist group behind the February 16 kidnappings, said on Friday that the hostages were killed after British warplanes were reported to have been seen in the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi by local journalists.