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The late Andy Needham — a life well lived


“A beautiful human being” (Ziauddin Yousafzai) Andy (Andreas) Needham packed an awful lot of life into his 44 years, enough for two recent celebrations. The tragedy of his death in a Nairobi hospital in August wasn’t forgotten at either of these events. But his warmth, his humour and his courage shone out at each of them. His sister Jutta welcomed over 100 people to a


commemoration near Dublin Airport on October 21st, on behalf of the Needham family. Andy is survived by his mother, two other sisters Rita and Karen, his brother Markus and many, many others. His wife Tabitha and their daughter Chessie sent greetings from Nairobi, where they live. At the Dublin event, a host of family members described the joy Andy brought to their lives from his earliest years, throughout his life, and even when he was far away from them on his work for refugees with the UNHCR. Andy’s comradeship and his irreverent good


humour were movingly described by his close friend Ciarán Hancock of the Irish Times. There were tears amid the laughter as Ciarán recalled their time together. Speaking on behalf of the whole NUJ, Irish Secretary Seamus Dooley added his reminiscences in a similar tone. Although Andy had left Ireland in 2007 to work for the UN in various ways, he always maintained a close link with the union. Some of Andy’s UN work colleagues travelled


from Geneva to Dublin for the event and added their own warm tributes. In their friend’s memory, they also brought a generous donation of €1000 (which they collected among themselves) for the George Viner Memorial Fund. This body enables the NUJ to increase media diversity. There were


tributes too from the Garda Representative Association, Andy’s employers when he edited the Garda Review, and from the Football Association of Ireland, where he also worked. On November 7, Dublin Publications and Public


Relations Branch of the NUJ also paid tribute to Andy Needham as part of its November branch meeting. As members stood for a minute’s silence in his memory, a slide presentation highlighted aspects of his life. This branch owes Andy a particular debt as he chaired it for many years, working tirelessly for its members. When discussion resumed, Andy’s work was recalled by Neil Ward, who succeeded him as Garda Review editor, and by NEC member Barry McCall, one of Andy’s staunchest allies on the Irish Executive Council.


RTE musicians fear that review may strike wrong note


IRISH Secretary Séamus Dooley has extended support to the Irish Musicians Union in their campaign to protect RTÉ’s performing groups. The IMU, a section of SIPTU is fearful that a review announced by RTÉ may led to a merger of the RTÉ


Concert Orchestra and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. The NUJ works closely with the IMU and president Seamus Doyle, pictured, is a member of the RTÉ


Group of Unions. “Any positive review would be welcome but in the context of the current financial position there is a fear


that moves will be made to reduce funding to the performing groups. The public service remit of RTÉ extends beyond news, current affairs and programming and there is a cultural dimension to the work of the public service broadcaster which is often overlooked.”


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