Funeral of former SDLP MLA Joe Byrne to take place on Saturday

Mr. Byrne passed away in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry surrounded by his family on Tuesday.

His Requiem Mass will take place at St. Mary’s, Killyclogher on Saturday at 12 noon after which his remains will be laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

He served as MLA for West Tyrone between 1998 and 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015. Before that, he was also a councillor on Omagh District Council.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP said: “Joe Byrne was a giant of public service who devoted his life to the people of Tyrone, serving his community with integrity, compassion and quiet determination. He believed, deeply and genuinely that politics should always be about people.

“Joe’s political career spanned decades, from Omagh District Council to the Northern Ireland Forum to MLA for West Tyrone. Not only did he play a key role in the SDLP during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, locally he championed rural communities and was key in the ongoing campaign for the A5. He also cared deeply about education, agriculture, and the local economy."

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer said: "I was very sad to learn of the passing of my former constituency colleague Joe Byrne.

"Joe spent a lifetime in public service as a Lecturer in Omagh College, a Councillor, an MLA and the in the many other roles he held in the community.

"I had the privilege of being Joes constituency colleague and we both served on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee at Stormont. Joe was a strong and relentless voice for rural communities and for all the people of West Tyrone. We worked on many projects together.

"Joe also served as an Omagh District Councillor with my late father Barney McAleer and I know that Daddy also held Joe in high regard and considered him a fair and effective public representative.”

Mr. Byrne is mourned by his wife Ursula, children Aoife, Emer and Eoin and siblings, Geraldine McNamee and PJ.

“Joe will leave a lasting legacy in his community in Tyrone, and it will be one of decency, fairness and hope.

“On behalf of the SDLP, I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Ursula, children Aoife, Emer and Eoin and the entire family circle.

“Ar dheis Dé go mbeidh a anam,” said Ms. Hanna.