Member's statement: Michael Patrick
Member's statement by Mr Matthew O'Toole on .
- MLA
- Mr Matthew O'Toole
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 13 April 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Michael Patrick
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5483137
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Earlier today, we joined in celebrating the extraordinary success of Rory McIlroy in the sporting field. I wish also to share some words of profound sadness about someone of the same age who was lost from the arts community not just in Northern Ireland but on the island of Ireland: a man named Michael Campbell, whose stage name was Michael Patrick. Michael was diagnosed with motor neurone disease early in 2023. He was an extraordinary artist and an exceptionally talented man who bore his illness with extraordinary bravery. He, in a sense, used his extraordinarily difficult diagnosis and affliction to create the most profound art, including a stage show called 'My Right Foot', which finished just a few months ago, and an extraordinary performance as Richard III in a version of the play that was adapted to specifically reflect Michael's condition. For anyone who saw that play, it was, I think, a truly awe-inspiring and seminal performance. I was not fortunate enough to be able to see it, but my wife and lots of other people whom I know were unbelievably affected by Michael's performance. Michael Patrick was an extraordinary artist. From my constituency of South Belfast, he made his way to Cambridge University, where he shone in the Footlights, and then pursued a career in the theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He then worked with another talented playwright from this part of the world, Oisín Kearney, to develop memorable shows, including 'My Left Nut' and a range of other funny, vivid and inspiring pieces of art. Michael had an extraordinary future on the stage, an extraordinary lifetime of artistic endeavour to pursue and, in a sense, a gift to bestow on us all. It is an extraordinary tragedy that he was not able to live out the rest of that life, but, in the years in which we had him, he gave an extraordinary gift to everybody. The British and Irish theatre scenes have paid extraordinary tribute to Michael's contribution.
His funeral is happening literally now, and he will be buried later today. His wife, Naomi, and his entire family, who live in south Belfast, have had a profound loss, but the gift that Michael was able to give us in his short time on earth was extraordinary. Let his legacy be one not just of that artistic achievement but of more research into the awful affliction that is motor neurone disease. He bore that affliction with such courage and dignity. He did lots fundraising work and other work to raise awareness of motor neurone disease, and we hope that medical research —
— can tackle that affliction. Rest in peace, Michael.
445 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.04 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.86 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.13 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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