The late Charlie McLaughlin
REQUIEM Mass has taked place this morning for Derry SDLP veteran Charlie McLaughlin.
Family, friends and party activists gathered at Pennyburn Chapel for 10 am Mass.
Mr McLaughlin died on Christmas Day.
SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has paid a glowing tribute to Mr McLaughlin.
He said: “It was with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Charlie McLaughlin.
“He as a stalwart of the SDLP in Derry. Part of the generation of challenge and change with the Civil Rights movement, he stayed the course with non-violence, the quest for agreement and prioritising social justice.
!As a party member he provided wise counsel and solid support to party representatives during the most testing and distressing times for our city and country.
“As local party chairman and in other key roles, he gave a commitment of time, judgement and public service without any eye to personal interest, only the public good.
“His passion for progressive politics was matched by his patience and perseverance.
For him politics was about values and service which respect rights and respond to needs.
Charlie believed that political debate shouldn’t be about slogans and labels but a conversation about solutions and enablement of prospects.
“His special love of Derry with all its traditions and talents, its history and hinterland and his concern for its betterment at all levels epitomised a deeply held patriotism focused on people, potential and purposeful civic action.
“One of his more demonstrative expressions of civic pride was his fanatical commitment to Derry City FC. Here again his real interest led to deep involvement, taking on relatively thankless tasks in support of the wider enterprise. For him the ethic of team-play should not just be seen on the pitch.
“He knew that things the rest of us take for granted like match programmes and other off-field requirements of club life needed the kind of steady, unshowy, active contributions he could make.
“As in other things, Charlie’s “support” for Derry City could not be merely vocal or big-occasional.
“It wasn’t only in his work inside the SDLP that Charlie showed a particular gift for encouraging younger people and quiet mentoring. He could be attentive to problems without drawing attention to himself.
“He certainly did not need others to know the difference he was making, he may have been too modest even to want to know it for himself but just acted with his good nature and genuine discretion.
“Even in the brave way he bore his illness, Charlie’s stoicism and lack of self-regard would be conveyed in his thoughts for others and talk of other causes.
“This Christmas weekend there are so many in Derry who will join Betty and all Charlie’s beloved family in mourning the passing of a special but modest man but proud as a son of Derry who cared, gave, committed, supported, helped and quietly inspired us,” added Mr Durkan.
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