Brian McGinley

Dear Brian, I had the honour and the pleasure to work with you for a couple of years at the EPO. I still remember your enthusiastic speech at the 2007 management meeting in Prague when you announced the Strategic Renewal Domain Pride to which I participated. I met many managers in my professional life but not many real leaders with such a sense of humanity and respect for others like you. You will be truly missed, Iris Kattinger

Brian , we will miss you. A gentle caring man with a great sense of humour. We were cousins and must have first met in Beechfield in 1949. In latter years he was a great email correspondent, commenting on everything from Donegal to world events. So proud of his family and his grandsons, he may have left Ireland long ago but his heart never left Donegal.

Dear Brian, I feel very sorry that you left the earthly world so early. Thank you for all your kindness and humanity you provided to the people around you. I myself will remember you in particular for a speech which you held during the funeral service for one of your collegues many years ago and where you expressed your belief that the loss of a person from earth will be a temporary one and that families and friends will get re-united in the somewhat higher world to come. These words remained unforgotten and served as a big comfort to me when, very much later, I had lost my wife, and to some smaller extent also when I lost other persons close to me along my journey through life. Farewell, Roland

We are very sorry and saddened to hear of the loss of Brian McGinley. He will be remembered for his contributions to the social dialogue at the EPO. He was able to see and respect the human beings behind their tasks and the roles they had to play. His sense of humour, listening skills and warmth still inspire all who had the privilege of working with him. Our sincere condolences to Brian McGinley’s family. Thomas Czogalla on behalf of the SUEPO Berlin Committee

Brian, the least assertive and bossy of bosses, was indefatigable in defending interpreters, and cooking up ways to give us more when pay rates slipped so badly, anything to get through the Verwaltungsrat. I remember him as a decent human being, as a friend, as a man of modesty and kindness, and a man of conscience. I'm so sorry to hear this. Rest in peace now, Brian. xx

Under Brian's leadership, the EPO Language Service took shape, and the EPO soon became a favourite place for interpreters to work, in no small part due to Brian's informal touch and ever-open door. His genial personality and outgoing nature will be much missed.

Such sad news to hear of Brian's passing. A gentleman and a true Mensch.

Way back in January 1982 Brian was the first person from EPO Munich to welcome me into my new job up in The Hague. He did so with characteristic humour by sending my boss a fax asking which idiot had recruited another McGinley to the Office. In the years that followed, our paths only occasionally crossed but that changed when he and I found ourselves in together in the MAC under President Brimelow. I have only fond memories of Brian during that intensive and turbulent period. He was honest, full of integrity and a true colleague. I will cherish every memory that I have of him.