Tributes paid to civil rights ‘titan’ Austin Currie

Image: Austin Currie (left) with SDLP co-founder John Hume. Credit: Pacemaker.

SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood, has led tributes to the party’s founding member, Austin Currie, who passed away on Tuesday

Describing Mr Currie as “a titan of the civil rights movement”, the Foyle MP said he had spoken for a generation of young nationalists when he refused to allow his constituents to be treated as second class citizens anymore.

“Each time we lose a political giant like Austin we lose a piece of our history,” said Mr Eastwood.

“While moments like this bring us great sadness, it also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the man and the huge contribution he made to politics in both the North and South of our island. It’s because of brave men and women like Austin who saw the way their community was being treated and refused to be silenced, that we all enjoy the freedoms and privileges we have today.

“My thoughts and the thoughts of all the SDLP family are with Austin’s wife Annita, their children Estelle, Caitriona, Dualta, Austin Og and Emer, and their wide circle of family and friends at this difficult time.”

Mid Ulster MP and fellow civil rights campaigner, Francie Molloy focused on the impact of Austin Currie’s sit-in protest at the house in Caledon.

He said, “I wish to extend my sympathy to the wife, family and extended family circle on the death of Austin Currie. Austin Currie was a well-known figure in Tyrone, a key part in the Caledon squatting protest and during the Civil Rights campaign he stood up with the people demanding housing, jobs and the right to vote.

“Myself and Austin had many a good political debate and often disagreed but he undoubtedly was a significant political influence across Tyrone and across Ireland.”

Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar described Mr Currie as a “pioneer of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland” and an “outstanding politician of his generation”.

He added, “Austin moved his political career south of the border in the 1980s and became a Fine Gael TD in Dublin West, the constituency which I am currently honoured to represent alongside his daughter, Senator Emer Currie. He served as a Minister for Children’s Affairs in the Rainbow Coalition under Taoiseach John Bruton, before retiring from politics in 2002.

“I knew Austin as a brave, courageous, and principled man. He was blessed with extensive political insight and boundless humanity.

“Above all, he cared most about bringing peace to this island by peaceful means, something he worked towards throughout his political career, and was vehemently opposed to political violence.”

The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, also paid tribute, saying, “Ireland has lost a dedicated, sincere and very committed politician who made such a significant contribution to the lives of so many people throughout the island of Ireland during a varied and challenging political career.

“His outstanding service to the people of this country as an advocate and politician will stand as his proud legacy. It was pleasure and privilege to have worked with him as a colleague in politics.”

Reacting to the news of Mr Currie’s death, Taoiseach Michael Martin tweeted, “He did so much for people, as a peacemaker and in politics, serving in the Dail and as Minister of State with distinction.”

Ulster Unionist Party leader, Doug Beattie, described Mr Currie as “committed civil rights activist” and extended his condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Find more coverage of Austin Currie’s life and tributes in tomorrow’s Ulster Herald and Dungannon Herald.