UNISON Northern Ireland is sad to hear about the sudden passing of our friend and activist Sean Morrin, aged 48.
Sean was a lifelong gay rights activist and the first ever ‘out’ gay member of UNISON Northern Ireland in the early ’90s.
He was a founder member of Foyle Pride, both a volunteer and staff member with the Rainbow Project, established Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous groups for LGBT people in Derry, was involved in history projects and arts projects to raise the profile of LGBT people, was a volunteer with Foyle hospice and, more recently, had been supporting the Trans Derry group.
Sean was also a well known lover of animals who fostered many cats and dogs over the years.
UNISON member Ronan Doherty, a friend of Sean, said he was “devastated” by the news.
“He helped me in so many ways that they would be impossible to list,” said Ronan. “I have no doubt that I probably wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for him. How do you repay someone the debt of saving your life?
“There is a huge dark hole in the Earth today where his presence once stood and an even larger hole in my heart.
“I’ll carry everything he taught me in my heart and continue to live by the principles he taught me: respecting every other person; fighting for those who can’t; and giving to those who need.
“If I live twice as long and yet I only manage to do a thousandth of the good he did in his lifetime I will die a happy man.”
Sean’s funeral will be at 10am on Thursday 26 September in St Mary’s Church in Creggan.
