26 November 2009 Edition

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Fógraí bháis: Oliver McFadden

The funeral cortege of Oliver McFadden

The funeral cortege of Oliver McFadden

BY TONY HASSAN

THE funeral took place on Friday, 20 November of Derry republican Oliver McFadden,
Oliver McFadden, involved in republican politics and activism for all his life, was a great inspiration to republicans in Derry and in particular to the people of Shantallow.
The number of people who turned out for his funeral was a tribute to a man who was well respected in his community,
I have been a close personal friend of Oliver for over 35 years and from my first conversation I had with him I knew that he was a dedicated republican.
Like many other republicans in the early 1970s Oliver helped the men and woman who where on the run due to internment. His door was always open to republicans and he helped out in many ways.
Oliver was still very much involved in Sinn Féin and election work up until he took ill in recent years, and even then he was still  a regular visitor to the centre in Shantallow looking for this or that to be sorted – not stuff for himself but community matters – not only in this area but often issues in Donegal .
Oliver had a great love for football and snooker and was a founder member of the Bronco Bradley committee which was set up after the death of Volunteer Eamonn (Bronco) Bradley. The deaths of our republican Volunteers affected Oliver very much and spurred him on to pursue his republican goals.
Oliver said to me after the death of Bronco Bradley that we must not allow people to forget what happened or the way Bronco was murdered and that we must have some way to remember what the British did to Bronco.
Oliver was part of a group of republicans who set up the committee that formed the Bronco Bradley 7s and he looked after the annual competition that is still running today.
Oliver’s death was a sad occasion for all who knew him, his family and friends and he will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all within the Republican Movement especially those from the Shantallow area who had the pleasure of counting Oliver as a friend and a comrade.
Our heart-felt condolences go out to his wife Christine, his daughter Sharon, and his sons Oliver, Dermott, Patrick and Declan and to his many grandchildren. They have lost a loving husband, father and grandfather. We have lost a great friend and comrade and a true republican.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland