Tánaiste pays tribute to Irish ‘man of clear principles’ killed fighting in Ukraine

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has paid tribute to an Irishman for his idealism following his death fighting with the Ukrainian military against the invading Russian forces.

Mr Martin said that he was saddened to learn of the death of Finbar Cafferkey, from Achill Island in Co Mayo, after his family had confirmed that the man in his 40s had been killed while fighting as a military volunteer with Ukrainian forces.

“My deepest sympathies to the Cafferkey family on the sad passing of Finbarr who was obviously a young man of clear principles – our thoughts and prayers are with the family today,” he said. “I think the family have asked for privacy so I won’t comment any further on it and will allow the family the space to grieve for what is a very sad loss for them.”

Mr Cafferkey’s father, Tom, confirmed on Thursday afternoon at the family home at Cashel, Achill that his son had been killed in Ukraine but he didn’t elaborate on the circumstances in which his son had lost his life.

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Finbar Cafferkey had combat experience fighting with Kurdish militias against Islamic State in Syria.

News of Mr Cafferkey’s death has been greeted with shock and sadness on Achill Island where one local described him as “a man of principle” and recalled that he had worked around eight years ago on the border between Greece and Macedonia, assisting refugees landing in dinghies.

“It came as a bit of a surprise when we learned from newspaper reports that he had been fighting in Syria,” the local said. “Nobody around here, except perhaps his family, knew he was in Ukraine. I know that relatives have been concerned for his safety over the years. His family have been particularly worried.”

A former classmate in Scoil Damhnait on Achill recalled Finbar Cafferkey as “bookish and thoughtful”. “He was forever reading the heavy stuff, books and magazines about the environment and the formation of the universe,” he said.

Shane McHugh remembered Mr Cafferkey from his time serving in his father and mother’s pub, Ted Lavelle’s at Cashel, Achill.

“He would have managed the pub for a while. He was very well liked. I didn’t even know he was in Ukraine. It takes a lot of guts to do what he did, take up arms in support of causes he believed in.”

Mr Cafferkey has four siblings, Colm, the Irish language officer in Achill, Eamon, Orla and Maeve.

His brother Colm’s partner is Saoirse McHugh, a former Green Party politician.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to the Cafferkey family.