TRIBUTES have been paid to victims campaigner Mary Heenan who passed away on Monday.
Mary (99) from Inishmore Crescent in Andersonstown passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by her loving family.
Mary was the widow of Patrick Heenan, who was killed in a loyalist grenade attack in February 1973.
The 47-year-old died when the minibus in which he was travelling to work was targeted by the UDA in East Belfast in February 1973. A grenade was thrown into the bus and the father-of-five immediately threw himself on top of the grenade, taking the full force and shielding the other Catholic workmen on board.
Mary and her son Eugene led a campaign for justice for Patrick, and in 2015 they travelled to London with the backing of victims’ group Relatives for Justice and their legal team from Kevin Winters Law, where they issued a writ against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Brigadier Frank Kitson, who at the time of Mr Heenan’s murder was a Brigadier serving in the north, was specifically named in the writ.
It was the first time a member of the British Army had been named in a civil action.
Relatives for Justice described Mary as "irrepressible".
"It is with the heaviest of hearts we learned of the passing of the irrepressible Mary Heenan," they said.
It is with the heaviest of hearts we learned of the passing of the irrepressible Mary Heenan today.
— Relatives 4 Justice #NeverGivingUp (@RelsForJustice) September 21, 2026
In 2015 Mary travelled with RFJ to the heart of London and delivered a writ on Brigadier Frank Kitson, the architect of collusion, citing his role in the murder of her dear… pic.twitter.com/RAmTno93HQ
"In 2015 Mary travelled with RFJ to the heart of London and delivered a writ on Brigadier Frank Kitson, the architect of collusion, citing his role in the murder of her dear husband Paddy.
"Mary was a wife, a mother, a human rights defender, and a source of unending hope and courage.
"We send our heartfelt condolences to her family. Go ndéana Dia trócaire uirthí."
In her death notice, Mary is described as the beloved wife of the late Patrick, cherished mother of Maire, Catherine, Deirdre, Eugene and Joe, devoted grandmother and great grandmother to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren at home and in England and Edinburgh.
Mary will be reposing at her late home from Thursday. The family welcomes you to call and pay respects on Thursday evening and Friday. Mary will leave her home on Saturday at 12:30pm to arrive at St. Agnes' Church for Requiem Mass at 1pm. Burial to follow at Milltown Cemetery.
