He went on to become a founding member of Newry’s branch of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association and acted as chief marshal at its first civil rights march in January 1969. That year, as civil unrest was spreading across Northern Ireland, Dan suffered life-threatening injuries after rescuing a friend from a burning building. His last public appearance was in January 2019 when he took part in the 50th anniversary of Newry’s first civil rights march. Determined to be buried in his native Newry, Dan had already purchased a plot in the local graveyard as the family grave was filling up. “Thinking of others, that was his driving force – thinking of others in relation to religion, in relation to getting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and through his charity work.”

Source: The Irish Times March 06, 2021 00:56 UTC