Top Northern Irish model Mairead O'Neill 'dies suddenly aged 21'

An up-and-coming Northern Irish model has died suddenly at the age of 21, according to reports.

Mairead O’Neill, who graduated from university in August, was pronounced dead by emergency services in Belfast on Monday night.

She had lost her mother to cancer ten months previously.

Model agency boss Cathy Martin, who worked with Mairead for six years, told Belfast Live: “It’s such a shock to hear that Mairead has passed away. We don’t know exactly what happened but she has been having a very difficult time following the death of her mum from bowel cancer.

“She had a lot of support but her heart was broken. It’s so sad to think that she is gone now too.

“Mairead was a clever, grounded and very smart young lady who was beautiful. She had been modelling for me for about six years and was doing very well.”

She added that the model had “no idea that she had the world at her feet”.

Mairead, who has almost 9,000 followers on Instagram, had recently modelled in front of thousands at Belfast Fashion Week.

According to her social media posts, she had been out drinking in a bar with friends earlier on Monday night.

Ms Martin added: “To hear this morning that we’ll not see Mairead again is just devastating.”