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Irish jockey JT McNamara has died aged 41, just over three years after he was paralysed in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival.McNamara fractured two vertebrae in his neck after being thrown from his horse, Galaxy Rock, in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup in March 2013. He moved back to Limerick in 2014 after being discharged from the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, and was trying to establish a new career as a trainer.One of the best amateur jockeys of his day, McNamara rode more than 600 winners in his career, outdoing many professional riders in the process. His highlights included winning the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Race at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, as well as the Cross-Country Chase and the Fox Hunter Chase in the mid noughties.Sky Sports report that Adrian McGoldrick, senior medical officer for the Irish Turf Club, confirmed that McNamara died peacefully during the night. Tributes have flooded in from all quarters of the racing community, with champion jockey AP McCoy telling the BBC: "He was a very tough man, mentally tough, and has been since his accident. He was a brilliant man and a brilliant amateur jockey."Fellow jockey Barry Geraghty said: "It's very sad news and a shock to us all. He was a brilliant fellow. He was a brilliant rider, obviously, but he was such a good, fun person and I suppose he showed his true strength having to deal with this injury over the past few years."Geraghty added: "He could hold his own amongst professionals and was better than most. Nothing fazed JT. He was cool as a breeze."