Debate contribution: Tributes: Mr Mickey Brady

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 19 January 2026.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

19 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Assembly Business

Heading

Tributes: Mr Mickey Brady

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5321933

Read the official Assembly record

Text

What can you say about Mickey Brady? He was someone whom I am proud to have known and grown to love. He was a kind, gentle and warm person. The news of his passing on Friday evening has sent shock waves across our community and, I would go so far as to say, these islands. Mickey had time for everyone. He was first appointed as a welfare adviser, the first of its kind in the North, in 1981. A senior member of the Belfast Law Society stated that, in 1984-85, Mickey represented more social security tribunal cases than all the solicitors in the North of Ireland. That, in itself, encapsulates the dedication and the commitment of Mickey, as a person, to bettering people's lives. Mickey literally put food on the table for many families over the years. Through hard times, he ensured that they got what they were rightly entitled to. The legacy of the decades of work that Mickey gave to our community but also more broadly than Newry has been carried through. The outpouring of tributes over the past few days is a testament to the high esteem that he was held in by people from all backgrounds and communities. The Mickey whom I knew was a warm, witty, fun person to be around. He had a brilliant memory and could take you back to the early 60s and what happened in his student days in Liverpool and his days in Frederick Street and Bridge Street in Newry through to the antics that he, Fra McCann and others got up to in Stormont. Many across the Chamber and the Building are aware of those. Mickey had a great ability for slagging. If you came in with something on you that was a wee bit different, Mickey would not be long in pointing that out. That is the type of person who Mickey was. He was so kind and so caring, as has been reflected over the past few days.

My children were practically reared in my constituency office. Mickey was always there if you needed someone to hold the baby, quite literally. My children have great memories of him.

When we opened our constituency office in Monaghan Street, I was proud to have my name alongside Mickey Brady's name and share that office with him, because, for the people of Newry, Mickey Brady defined what we call "a legend". That is not an exaggeration. He was always a joy to canvass with and, especially, for, but it took a long time to get round the doors, because he knew absolutely everybody and everyone wanted to talk to him. He was a fierce advocate for Daisy Hill Hospital, Palestine and, indeed, welfare rights and equality. First and foremost, however, he was a family man who absolutely adored his family. He spoke daily about his late wife, Rose, whom he lost at a very young age; his wife, Caroline; his children; and, more recently, his grandchildren, whom he adored. I know that their loss is immeasurable. Our loss is huge. We cannot imagine life without Mickey Brady. He has been our constant. Right up until a few weeks ago, he was still doing appointments and filling in forms with people during what was meant to be his retirement. Mickey was the people's champion; there is no more fitting term for somebody like Mickey Brady. We will miss him dearly.

569 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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