Funeral for renowned priest Faul

Mourners from a wide spectrum of society were among those who attended the service.

Hundreds of people were at St Colmcille's Catholic Church in Carrickmore to pay their respects.

A teacher for more than 40 years, many of which were spent at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon, Monsignor Faul was renowned for his outspoken views.

He was Catholic chaplain at the Maze prison during the H-Block hunger strikes in 1980 and 1981.

Auxiliary Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Gerard Clifford, said: "A hunger for justice, for peace and reconciliation was the driving force behind his life.

"Over 30 years, he was indeed a prophetic voice in the Catholic community in Northern Ireland.

"He was the voice for the voiceless, the friend of the repressed."

Mourners heard that as he lay dying, Monsignor Faul made his last appeal to help the families of the Disappeared.

Dr Clifford added: "In particular, he campaigned on behalf of the Disappeared - those who had been abducted and whose bodies had never been found.

"His plea, even on his deathbed, was addressed to those who had any knowledge, or hint, of where those bodies had been placed.

"His message was clear - anyone who has knowledge of the unburied bodies bears responsibility for that."

Monsignor Faul's efforts in organising meetings of the hunger strikers' families was viewed as instrumental in bringing the protest to an end.

Back in 1969, his criticism of the judiciary in 1969 brought him a rebuke from the then-Catholic Primate of Ireland, Cardinal Conway.

Tributes to Monsignor Faul

He was strongly critical of the Army and the RUC, while also condemning the Provisional IRA.

In March 1977, he described the IRA campaign as spurious and directly contrary to Catholic teaching.

Monsignor Faul was buried in the cemetery next to the church.

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