We were very saddened to learn of the recent death of Fergus McCabe. Fergus was a brilliant organiser, advocate, and campaigner and brought a deep knowledge of drugs issues to all his work. He made valuable and incisive contributions to successive drugs strategies. He was also an avid reader and champion of Drugnet Ireland. We are grateful to his friend and colleague, Anna Quigley, coordinator at CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign for the short tribute below. 

Fergus was a passionate, articulate and tireless champion for his own community in the north inner city and he brought the same gifts to his work with CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, of which he was a founder member. Over the last 25 years Fergus travelled to communities all over Ireland to meet with people responding to the drugs crisis; he never said no to a meeting if it was possible for him to make it. Fergus understood what community development is about and he had a gift for it; no meeting was too small or too far away. He shared his knowledge, wisdom, and experience with all of us, and he did it with grace, generosity, and a lovely sense of humour ... and of course always a comment on Spurs! 

Fergus represented the community sector on National Drugs Strategy Committees since 1996 and continued as a member of the current National Oversight Committee until recently. Throughout the many years of his participation on these committees, Fergus was a brilliant advocate for our communities, strong, passionate, and principled. That great phrase 'telling truth to power' could have been written for Fergus, because that is what he did, and in doing so, he won the respect of many of those people in power. He has been a leader, a mentor, and an inspiration to me and to countless others involved with the community response to drugs. Above all else, Fergus was a wonderful human being and our thoughts and sympathies are with Helena and the family on their profound loss. They have always been his light and inspiration.