Fr Maurice (Mossy) Burke S.M.A. (1927-1998)
Fr Maurice Burke of the Society of African Missions died on 15
April in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin after a long illness. He was
buried at Wilton in Cork city after Requiem mass in St Joseph's
Wilton. He is survived by one brother Fr Don, who works in
Zambia, and four sisters, who live in Ireland.
Maurice was born in Waterford in 1927. From an early age he was
interested in Irish history and the Irish language. Ordained to
the priesthood in 1952 he went to work on the Missions in Nigeria
from 1955-1967. His enthusiasm for education and learning led him
to found a number of schools and colleges. He is still remembered
in Nigeria for his pioneering work in science education.
He suffered a serious heart attack while in Nigeria and was
forced to retire from missionary work. When he recovered in 1968
he went to work in Tottenville parish in Staten Island, New York
where he remained until 1991. During that time he showed his real
and abiding concern for the violations of human rights in the
British occupied six counties. Maurice set about countering
British propaganda in the United States through a column in the
Irish People and through his own newsletter ``The Nation'' which
went to subscribers all over the States.
His main concern was the way the British and indeed, the Dublin
governments distorted the facts about the situation in the six
counties. Throughout these years he made the annual trips to the
north with the INA delegations.
When he retired in 1991 he returned to live near his sister in
Dublin. Although in failing health he still worked tirelessy
writing and helping the prisoners and their families. This good
work brought him to the attention of the Dublin Special Branch
who visited him on at least one occasion.
Fr Maurice (or ``Mossy'' as he was known to his friends and
colleagues) believed passionately in a free and independent
Ireland because he was convinced that it was the only way the
Irish people could achieve their full potential. He felt it was
his duty as a priest to make known the facts about British rule
in the north of Ireland which were not reported in the press.
He wrote a number of books (including Ireland: The Facts) and
pamphlets and formed a group known as Clergy for Justice which
published many pamphlets and a book, The Truth about British
Injustice in Ireland. Maurice was a man of learning and wisdom,
of courage and integrity, a man committed to the truth and to
justice. He stirred a few consciences along the way. He has made
a great contribution to the creation of a just and lasting peace
in Ireland. Duine uasal, sagart diograiseach, fear croiuil agus
croguil. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
By Fr Joe McVeigh
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