Denis Bradley

For the Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester, see Denis Mary Bradley.

Denis Bradley is a former vice-chairman of the police board for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in Northern Ireland. Born in Buncrana, County Donegal, Bradley is a freelance journalist and a former priest. He was formerly a member of the NI Drugs Committee and the BBC Broadcasting Council, he also helped set up the Bogside Community Association. In mid-2007 he was appointed co-chairman, along with Robin Eames, of the Consultative Group on the Past in Northern Ireland.

He studied at St Columb's College in Derry, and was taught history for two years by John Hume. He went to study for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained in 1970.^[1] After leaving the priesthood he worked as a counsellor establishing two shelters and treatment centres for alcohol and drug addiction in the Derry.

In 2005 the University of Ulster awarded Denis Bradly an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his contribution to policing and local community issues in Northern Ireland.^[2]

On September 20, 2005, he was injured when he was attacked with a baseball bat while he and his son watched a soccer match in a pub in Derry, a teenager linked to dissident republicans was blamed for the attack.^{[3] [4]}

In January 2009 the Consultative Group on the Past Report^[5] was published and generating controversy over its recognition payment to the nearest relative of a victim.^[6]

External links

• Northern Ireland Policing Board profile
• Consultative Group on the Past

References

1. 'Father Bradley' finds himself in former no-go area Sunday Business Post, November 11, 2001
2. Honorary Graduate - Denis Bradley University of Ulster website
3. Minister Ahern condemns attack on Denis Bradley - Dept. of Foreign Affairs website 21 September 2005
4. Politicians condemn Derry pub assault, www.rte.ie 21 September 2005
5. Consultative Group on the Past Report www.bbc.co.uk website
6. NI Troubles legacy to cost £300m bbc.co.uk