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Sinn Féin has expressed heartfelt condolences following the passing of their former Member of Parliament, Mickey Brady, describing him as a monumental figure within the Newry community. Brady, who represented Newry and Armagh as an MP from 2015 to 2024, had also been an active member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. His longstanding commitment to advocating for welfare rights and social justice earned him deep respect among his party and constituents alike.
Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, paid a moving tribute, highlighting Brady’s unwavering dedication to prioritizing the needs of ordinary people throughout his career. She called his contributions a “lifetime of service” and lamented the loss of a “friend and comrade.” Deputy leader Michelle O’Neill echoed these sentiments, underlining how Brady selflessly gave his time to assist anyone seeking his help. McDonald further reflected on his early community work, emphasizing that even before holding elected office, Brady had already made a lasting impact through his welfare rights and housing advocacy, quietly changing thousands of lives year after year.
Brady’s roots were deeply embedded in civil rights activism in Newry’s Ballybot area. Before entering politics, he spent more than 25 years working tirelessly to support vulnerable individuals facing difficulties in securing housing and social benefits. As noted by fellow Sinn Féin member Dáire Hughes, Brady’s intervention often stood between families and destitution. His political career began with his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, where he served on key committees including health and social development. In 2015, he transitioned to Westminster, proudly representing his constituency despite Sinn Féin’s policy of abstentionism, which saw him never take his seat in the House of Commons.
During his initial Westminster campaign, Brady faced serious threats, including three death threats within 24 hours and a bomb warning at his family home, an ordeal he described as “terrifying” for his neighbours. After nearly a decade in Westminster, he retired from politics in 2024, expressing a desire to allow younger individuals to take the lead while hoping to continue volunteering in the community. Brady’s family includes his wife, children, step-children, and grandchildren. His successor as MP, Dáire Hughes, spoke of his shock and grief at Brady’s passing, praising him as a mentor whose legacy shaped much of Sinn Féin’s local support and calling him “a people’s champion” and “a Newry institution.” The outpouring of sorrow from political figures and locals alike reflects the high esteem in which Mickey Brady was held until the end
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