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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

LGBT History Month: Allies & Friends Posthumous Recognition 2012




Remembering an ally Shawn or Sean Macfarlane who was taken from us in questionable circumstances, here is the Gleaner article that carried the story:

Former House Orderly Killed


THIRTY-EIGHT-year-old Sean Anthony McFarlane, a former orderly and records clerk in the Houses of Parliament, was brutally slain recently.

McFarlane, who spent some 13 years working in the legislature, was severely chopped all over his body at his home in Greater Portmore.

The Gleaner has learnt that the former parliamentary records clerk was apparently killed by persons known to him. However, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) was unable to confirm this.

Reports from the CCN are that residents in the community heard loud noises coming from McFarlane's home on October 3 last month.

According to the CCN, two men were reportedly seen running towards a white Honda Civic motor car and sped off.

McFarlane's body was found in his house with multiple chop wounds.

The Gleaner has been informed that at least three teenagers have been held in connection with McFarlane's killing, but the police could not confirm this yesterday.

A senior parliamentarian told The Gleaner yesterday that he was aware of the killing of the former parliamentary worker.

He, however, pointed out that the House did not acknowledge his untimely passing during its sitting because the tradition was for tributes to be paid only to former parliamentarians.

The legislator indicated that condolences had been made by the staff of Parliament to McFarlane's family.

ENDS

He contributed in his own way during his life to the community though indiretly but importantly non the less as a key ally in the Parliment's library he was instrumental in providing us and directing us to hansard notes on key bills.

Older bills laid on the house floor and which were hard to come by in days gone by long before there was a parliamentary website and even then the public had to wait inordinate periods to see key public materials, Shawn was always ready to assist my requests and that of other organizations who wanted to have vital debates and white/green papers sometimes that were tabled on our house floor. He was key in gathering the notes on the Sexual Offences Bills when they were debated and amended and also the problematic Charter of Rights Bills and associated hansard notes especially the presentation by Hyacinth  Bennett at the time.

He was also a loyal friend although he laid low and out of sight to avoid being labelled as gay seeing he was married with two beautiful children.

Another unsung hero and one who served though quietly but importantly.

Peace and tolerance
H





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