Clerical abuse survivor Michael O’Brien gave 'a voice to the voiceless', funeral hears

Olivia Kelleher

Abuse survivor and former Mayor of Clonmel, Michael O’Brien, gave “a voice to the voiceless” and lived a life rich in service to others, his requiem mass has heard.

Mr O’Brien of Oliver Plunkett Terrace in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, died on Tuesday at his daughter Geraldine's residence.

The 92-year-old was predeceased in 2022 by his wife, Mary.

His granddaughter Jeanette Kelly told mourners at St Mary’s Church in Irishtown that Michael had made an impact on the nation “in a matter of minutes” in 2009 when he spoke on RTÉ about the abuse he had suffered at an industrial school.

“Those powerful words (on RTE’s Questions and Answers) made a difference. As they get repeated on the airwaves over the last few days, they still ring true," she said.

"Looking over the condolences, it is amazing how many lives he touched and how he gave a voice to those suffering and created hope. It is a powerful reminder that one voice can change everything.”

Jeanette, who was ed on the altar by her sister Sharon, who read a poem, said that her grandfather was very much a family man.

She stated that her grandparents, Michael and Mary, loved to dance and were ballroom dancing champions.

“At all our weddings, they hit the dance floor. Now they would really show you what Dancing with the Stars was like. They would glide across any dance floor. I have no doubt that any judge would have given them the perfect ten. As kids, we loved standing on his feet trying to dance as good as they were around the sitting room.”

Jeanette said that Tramore in Co Waterford was a “slice of heaven” for her grandparents.

“Their mobile (home). A home away from home where everybody was welcome. Dinners on a Sunday were his speciality.

"The love of his life was (his wife) Mary, together for a lifetime until she ed in 2022. In his final days, he would ask us, ‘Will she be waiting for me?’ I’d like to think there is a mobile home up in the sky where it is always sunny because they were both sun worshippers. And they are back together, reunited and happy.”

Meanwhile, Fr Billy Meehan, chief celebrant at the 10am mass, said Michael was above all else “a community person.”

“He served as Mayor of Clonmel, and during that time, he served it with distinction. During his lifetime, he served in the O.N.E. and he did two stretches out in the Congo. That was part of his service to the country," Fr Meehan said.

"We all the night on ‘Questions and Answers’ when he told the story of his own life and the impact it had made. From that, he got a national profile.

"When you stroll down through the condolences, you can see that people from all over the country were influenced by his presence that night and by the hope he gave to people. He was speaking out for people who had no voice. That was the great legacy that Michael left.”

Offertory gifts included his People of the Year award, a golf club, a photo of his time as Mayor of Clonmel, the artwork of his great-grandchildren, a newspaper, a candle bearing the image of his ‘beloved’ wife Mary, and a packet of toffees.

President Michael D Higgins was represented at the mass by his aide de camp, Captain Pat Fitzgerald.

Mr O’Brien is survived by his children Geraldine, Peter, Martin and Catriona, his sister, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and his many friends. He was laid to rest at St Patrick’s Cemetery.

As a child Mr O’Brien spent eight years in St Joseph’s Industrial School in Clonmel in Co Tipperary where he was raped and severely beaten. He spoke out following the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in 2009.

On Questions and Answers, he told then-Government Minister and Fianna Fáil TD Noel Dempsey that he had attempted to end his own life after spending five days being questioned at the Commission.

Mr O’Brien said that his of being raped and beaten had been questioned at the Commission.

“They brought a man over from Rome, ninety odd years of age, to tell me I was telling lies, that I wasn’t beaten for an hour non-stop by two of them from head to toe without a shred of cloth on my body.”

He asked member Leo Varadkar to ask his leader to stop “making a political football out of this.”

“You hurt us when you do that. You tear the shreds from inside our body. For God’s sake, try and give us some peace and not continue hurting us.”

Broadcaster John Bowman, who presented the show, said Mr O’Brien’s words had “a greater impact than any other contribution from the audience in the history of the programme.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.