Tributes pour in for disabled rights campaigner Martin Naughton who sadly passed away after a brief illness – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

Tributes pour in for disabled rights campaigner Martin Naughton who sadly passed away after a brief illness




There was some sad news announced last night as one of the country’s leading disability rights campaigners sadly passed away.

Avid campaigner and gentlemen Martin Naughton, aged 62, who came to the nation’s attentions last year after leading a sleep-out at Government Buildings last year to demand changes to home care funding, passed away after after a brief illness.

Mr Naughton who suffered with spinal muscular atrophy, also campaigned to change the rights for disabled people for a number of years and was the leading founder of the Centre for Independent Living,.

Leading the tributes President Michael D Higgins, said Mr Naughton was an “indefatigable advocate for human rights”.

“Martin Naughton gained widespread respect through his lifelong campaign for the inclusion of people living with disabilities and through his work with countless statutory and non-governmental organisations.”

President Higgins added: “Having experienced in his early years the once widespread practice of institutionalised living, he became a formidable and tireless campaigner for the right of people with disabilities to live in their own communities and homes.”

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