Death of Mr. Bobby Faith

It is understood that he was found dead at his flat around tea-time last Wednesday.

For many, Bobby will always be thought of as a ‘harmless soul’ burdened with a terrible addiction to alcohol. Few will argue the point that Bobby’s tragic situation made him locally famous - certainly very few people working in and around the town centre did not know him by name.

His ongoing battle with drink had led him down a hard road which resulted in numerous arrests, court appearances and most recently a jail sentence from which many hoped he would emerge a changed man. Sadly, such optimistic hopes were not fulfilled.

Bobby was buried on Sunday afternoon following his funeral Mass at All Saints Church.

In his Homily, Parish Priest, Fr Patrick Delargy said that often he met Bobby when he was at his weakest.

“Some would say he was his own worst enemy. Drinking to excess affects the personality for the worse and you can end up doing things you would normally be ashamed of, and becoming the type of person you would rather not be. You can go through days and weeks of desolation and lose control and live in isolation,” said Fr Delargy who pointed out that Bobby was “blessed” to live in Ballymena where there was a system of support for him.

“He was helped by his family and friends and the St Vincent de Paul, and often by people who were unknown to him personally, nurses and doctors in hospital and the police or social workers. In his days of darkness, in his time of personal exile, they provided the support he needed and encouraged him.

“We should be grateful for all those public servants who make sure that the weak and afflicted are not left totally alone. A civilised society is tolerant, patient and respectful to all its citizens.

“In that sense Bobby was blessed to live in this town. In the midst of self-inflicted suffering God provided helpers from among family and friends and even strangers,” said Fr Delargy who went on to recall one time Bobby came to the parish centre in a state of exhaustion.

“He was welcomed inside and asked to take a seat and he was provided with a meal in company with the others inside. It seemed the natural and Christian thing to do. Parishioners were responding in practice to the gospel by being good to their neighbour.

“And there was goodness in Bobby too. Maybe that little spark of goodness was all that God was looking for,” said Fr Delargy.

He continued: “The family knows well that in his dark days Bobby tried often to begin again and took time to say his prayers and went to Church here or elsewhere to ask for God’s mercy.

“Recently a family member started to pray the Lord’s Prayer with Bobby. He stopped in his tracks, put down the bag he was carrying, stood upright, straightened himself up, closed his eyes tightly, clasped his hands together and prayed the whole prayer with great fervour. He knew better than anyone else his need for God’s generous mercy.

“In his prayers Bobby expressed his own faith in God’s generosity and we trust that God will indeed be good to him...God shows His love and mercy when we are powerless to help”.