Obituary: Winifred (Cussy) Delaney 1959 to 2020
Win Lawlor, Strategic Policy and Partnerships Manager at Irish Community Care based in the North West writes with Leeds GATE CEO Helen Jones to note the passing of Winifred (Cussy) Delaney who was born in Dublin on the 9th of February 1959.
It was with the utmost sadness that we heard the news of the death of Cussy Delaney in Liverpool on 12th April. We offer our condolences as individuals and organisations to Cussy’s children, siblings and wider family.
Due our respective roles at Irish Community Care and Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, we were closely involved in supporting families, after the traumatic death of Cussy’s son Johnny Delaney at the hands of racists in 2003, and in the years since. Our horror at the judicial outcome was a deep shock and wake-up call to the inequalities inherent in our systems. Through-out that time and since, our deep and abiding admiration for the dignity of the Delaney family; Cussy, her husband Pat, and all the family, has been profoundly and personally affecting.
Johnny died at the hands of a racist gang on a playing field in Ellesmere Port in 2003. A witness described how the perpetrators kicked and stamped on Johnny’s head then, when challenged by a family walking on the field, stated “He was only an effing gyppo – he got what he deserved” This statement was treated as a Hate crime by Cheshire Police and the CPS; it was however NOT accepted as fact by the judge at the eventual trial of two boys, the same age as Johnny, and , in a scouring blow to the family, the judge decided to discount the racist element and the conviction was for manslaughter. The sentences were a derisory 4 yrs and 41/2 yrs
Knowledge and impact of Johnny’s death was widespread amongst Gypsy and Traveller communities, though the mainstream media barely mentioned it. Cussy and Pat continued to campaign for justice for their son but it must often have felt that no-one outside of their local and cultural communities was listening. They never gave up, speaking to schools, youth groups and Judges, and brought about a change in the training that they have to undertake, to include Gypsy and Irish Traveller cultural training. Throughout it was clear that the impact of this trauma on their lives was shattering. Pat died leaving the family devastated, only 18 months later and Cussy her children and family battled on alone. Still they never gave up seeking recognition and justice for Johnny, and protection for every other Gypsy or Traveller person from the pervasive views which enabled his killers. Cussy was very clear that she wanted her family to be remembered as an ordinary family, just like yours and mine; that they didn’t ask to be put in the limelight, and, as a private family they have continued to struggle with the loss of Johnny and Pat for the last 17 years.
On Sunday 13th October, last year, in a very moving ceremony of Hope and Remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral London, a candle was lit in Johnny’s memory, and as recognition of all that the family had done to raise awareness of the horrors of hate crime. Cussy was very pleased and proud about this public acknowledgement of the tragedy and injustice of her son’s death but was too ill to be present. We missed her very much on that occasion.
Cussy was found passed away at home on Sunday morning. Her surviving children, her many relatives and friends near and far and colleagues such as ourselves are devastated. That Cussy should leave us now during the outbreak, depriving so many people, both from within the communities and outside the opportunity to show their respects at her funeral is beyond sad. May you have the best bed in Heaven Cussy along with your family who have gone before.
The family have asked that everyone pay respects by lighting a candle or switching on a light, where you are staying safe, in her memory, at this time.