MON. DENIS FAUL, TRIBUTE BY RUAIRÍ Ó BRÁDAIGH.

international | miscellaneous | press release Saturday June 24, 2006 20:07 by Séan Ó Murchú - Republican Sinn Féin - Cork

MON. DENIS FAUL, TRIBUTE BY RUAIRÍ Ó BRÁDAIGH.

The late Monsignor Denis Faul was a remarkable man, principled, complex, courageous in his defence of human rights and in speaking out for what he believed in. He would argue his point strongly but never harbour a grudge afterwards.

MON. DENIS FAUL, TRIBUTE BY RUAIRÍ Ó BRÁDAIGH.

The late Monsignor Denis Faul was a remarkable man, principled, complex, courageous in his defence of human rights and in speaking out for what he believed in. He would argue his point strongly but never harbour a grudge afterwards.

Mon. Faul distinguished himself in the early 1970s in standing up for the nationalist people and exposing the abuses committed against them by the British Army and the RUC.

He will be remembered for the series of booklets he wrote and published along with An-Mon. Reámonn Ó Muirí outlining, with carefully gathered evidence, the excesses perpetrated against nationalists at that time.

He was perceptive in that he discerned as early as 1978 in reference to the moves to jettison from Sinn Féin the ÉIRE NUA Programme for a new four-province federal Ireland, the difference between those "who believed in something" and those "who merely sought power".

Denis Faul was very active in support of the protesting prisoners in the H Blocks of Long Kesh but his actions in bringing the hunger strike to an end proved controversial and alienated him from many Republicans.

Nevertheless he will be remembered for his concern and his availability to the poor and oppressed and his courage, both physical and moral, in confronting what he saw as oppression.

He was never a Republican but held that with the achievement of civil rights the passage of time would bring about a free and united Ireland.

Bhí an tAthair Ó Maolfabhait in a Ghaeilgeoir líofa agus chath sé an Fáinne go bródúil.

Cuirfear crothnú ann. Grásta ó Dhia air.