Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Leading Civil Rights campaigner dies

The funeral of leading civil rights campaigner Oliver Kearney took place from his Dungannon home on Monday 28 July.

Kearney, who died following a long illness on Thursday 24 July, was buried after Requiem Mass in St Malachy's Church, Edendork.

Kearney fought for many causes during his eventful life, but he will be best remembered as a driving force behind the implementation of the fair employment MacBride Principles in the Six Counties. He was sacked from his job at the Licensed Vintners Federation following a television interview where he spoke promoting the MacBride Principles.

His dedication was eventually rewarded when he was presented with the Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award.

As an activist, Oliver was both fearless and tireless, and his boundless determination saw him rise to become one of the most influential speakers of his generation.

In 1991, as General Secretary of the Equality organisation, he took on a new fight against the Northern Bank. The Six County-based bank was cited by Equality campaigners over its employment practices, which discriminated against Catholics.

Kearney was also a spokesperson for the Roisin McAliskey Justice Group, campaigning to have the pregnant woman released from an English jail.

Four years later he graduated from Queen's University with a Master of Social Studies Degree in Irish Studies.

Last October, he spoke out against the arrest of his son Ciaran over the Stormont spy ring fiasco.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams expressed his sympathy to the Kearney family on the death of Oliver describing him as a "tireless campaigner against discrimination and inequality.

"Oliver was a tireless campaigner against discrimination and inequality, and along with his late wife Brigid will be remembered for their efforts across the United States to see the MacBride Principles on fair employment adopted".

"On behalf of Sinn Féin I would send my condolences to the Kearney family at this sad time."