Mum pays tribute to Andrew Mather as fundraiser set up to help cover funeral costs of Sunderland dad

A murder investigation was launched after Andrew John Mather, 48, was sadly found dead by emergency services at a home, in Aintree Road, on Wednesday, June 3.

Now his heartbroken family have paid tribute to the dad-of-three as a Go Fund Me page is set up to help cover the funeral costs.

His family say a light in their lives has been extinguished after Andy was ‘senselessly taken away from them’.

So far more than £900 has been donated to help cover funeral costs.

The page, which was set up by his mother Elaine Mather, says: “Andy was a great lad, who was loved by many. He was no bother and would help anyone where he could.

“As a family, we are utterly distraught at the thought of having to bury our boy, who left behind two daughters, a son and doting granddaughter.

“We know people are struggling in light of this pandemic, but we are asking if you would be so kind as to try to support us in our mission to finance the burial of our special boy.

“Andy was special to us and loved to laugh and joke. This is why we cannot fathom why anyone would extinguish his life, and subsequently another light from our family.”

Neighbours also paid tribute to Mr Mather, who they knew as Andy, and said he was a ‘lovely lad’.

Linda Chapman, 52, said: “He was a hard working man. He will be so sadly missed, he really will. He had a lot of friends and family who supported him. He’s a lovely man.”

Wayne Miller, 32, of Dene Street, Sunderland, has since been charged with murder.

He will appear at Newcastle Crown Court tomorrow (Wednesday, June 10).

Three others – a 45-year-old man and two women aged 38 and 18 – were arrested on suspicion of murder and released under investigation.

A fifth man, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has also been released under investigation.

To donate to the Go Fund Me page click here.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

How to subscribe to the print edition:

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of.

Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.