Death Notices

Started by Armagh4SamAgain, April 05, 2007, 03:25:33 PM

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Fear ón Srath Bán

North's peacemaker minister Magee dies

Presbyterian minister the Reverend Roy Magee (79) who helped broker the 1994 loyalist ceasefire in Northern Ireland has died.

Rev Magee was central to efforts to persuade gunmen to lay down their arms but died after battling Parkinson's disease for many years, a colleague said.

Originally from north Belfast, he mediated talks between loyalists and the government which paved the way for the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

Fellow Presbyterian minister the Rev John Dunlop paid tribute.

"He took the initiative which he didn't need to take to get involved in dialogue with loyalist paramilitary leaders in order to influence them and try to persuade them to move away from the activities in which they were involved," he said.

"It was also dangerous because he was dealing with a number of extremely dangerous people and yet he was prepared to be taken to places in order to engage in dialogue where he was not sure where it was going or who he was going to be going with and this was extremely courageous."

Mr Magee spent much of his life as a minister in Dundonald, east Belfast, having worked in churches in some of the most hard-bitten areas of the city.

He held meetings with the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force and was awarded an OBE for his work.

Rev Magee was on the Parades Commission which ruled mainly on the route or restrictions on controversial loyal order parades but left at the start of 2006.

A spokesman for the Commission paid tribute to his work.

"He was a very dedicated and committed commissioner and was well-respected by his colleagues and the staff of the commission," he said.

Cleric Frankie Gallagher, who advised the UDA during their negotiations, said he was saddened by the news.

"He was a pillar for people in the loyalist community going through difficult times," he said.

"He brought stability and common sense. If it was not for him there would have been a lot more people killed and he will be a bad loss.

"He was very courageous." He said that bravery was reflected in his desire for peace.
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Rufus T Firefly

Sid - thirty years ago today.


Declan

QuoteSid - thirty years ago today.

Jesus - I'm getting old

ziggysego

I found him to be a vicious sort.
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longrunsthefox


Rossfan

Quote from: Fear ón Srath Bán on February 02, 2009, 01:42:47 PM
North's peacemaker minister Magee dies

One decent man . An antidote to the many collar wearing  bigots in that Church.May he rest in peace.
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give her dixie

Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson. RIP.
next stop, September 10, for number 4......

Norf Tyrone

Quote from: give her dixie on March 19, 2009, 12:04:51 AM
Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson. RIP.

Just heard that. Shocking. I believe it was only a wee fall too!
Owen Roe O'Neills GAC, Leckpatrick, Tyrone

ziggysego

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SidelineKick

Awful sad, the fact that she seemed to be unharmed.  Just shows it doesn't take much when the head is involved, the slightest knock.  RIP.
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Lecale2

Oliver Kelly LLB, Former Antrim County Board Chairman died last night. RIP

orangeman

Tributes to 'eloquent' solicitor 

Mr Kelly was involved in a series of high-profile cases
Tributes have been paid to Belfast solicitor Oliver Kelly, who has died following a short illness.

Mr Kelly, 63, built up one of the biggest criminal practices in the city during the Troubles.

He completed his law degree while interned in the 1970s and was involved in high-profile cases including the republican supergrass trials.

But he was also a leading figure in the GAA, serving as chairman of the Antrim County Board for 12 years.

Solicitor Ciaran Steele, who served an apprenticeship under Mr Kelly before going on to become his partner, praised his contribution during the tense years of the 1970s and 1980s.

"Oliver could be described as the original human rights lawyer," said Mr Steele.

"He was an extremely capable solicitor and a great advocate. He was just so eloquent."

Born in Belfast in 1946, Mr Kelly was one of hundreds of nationalists interned without trial in 1971, alongside his brother, Billy.

He was one of the last people to be released at the end of internment, but then refused permission by the Ministry of Home Affairs to enter the High Court to receive his law certificate.



Pat Finucane was murdered by loyalists in 1989
Mr Kelly began working as a solicitor with well known Belfast lawyer PJ McGrory and acted as a mentor to Pat Finucane, who was later murdered by loyalists.

In 1981, he was one of a number of soliticitors held captive when IRA prisoners broke out of Belfast's Crumlin Road prison.

Throughout the 1980s, Mr Kelly played a lead role in defending those charged under the supergrass system. He also represented Paul Hill of the Guildford Four.

Mr Kelly built up a huge practice at his Castle Street offices.

Other solicitors who knew him told of his great influence on those within the profession.

"When the Troubles kicked off many of the other lawyers took their lead from Oliver because he was so articulate and had such a breadth of knowledge," one said.

Away from his career, Mr Kelly was heavily involved in the GAA.

He represented Antrim as a minor hurler and played for Queen's University in Belfast in the Sigerson Cup.


South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell, who was the Antrim team doctor, said Mr Kelly would be sadly missed.

"Oliver made a tremendous contribution to society, through his outstanding work as a lawyer and his unswerving commitment to the GAA," he said.
Mr Kelly died on Tuesday morning. He will be buried on Thursday.