Frank Shortt remembered as ‘a man of great courage’
The 88-year-old, who passed away last Friday, spent 27 months in Mountjoy Prison in the 1990s after being wrongly convicted of allowing the sale of drugs at the Point Inn nightclub in Quigley’s Point
Frank Shortt, who was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for allowing the sale of drugs at his Inishowen nightclub, “stood for himself and the common good,” mourners at his funeral have heard.
The 88-year-old, who passed away last Friday, spent 27 months in Mountjoy Prison in the 1990s after being wrongly convicted of allowing the sale of drugs at the Point Inn nightclub in Quigley’s Point.
In July 2000 the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled the conviction was a miscarriage of justice after it was revealed there had been a deliberate suppression of material by two gardaí, Det Garda Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon. The then President of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Mr Justice John Murray, said Mr Shortt had been “the victim of disreputable conduct and a shocking abuse of power”.
Mr Shortt was awarded €1.93m in damages in 2006 by the High Court which was increased to more than €4.6 million after he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court on the grounds the amount was inadequate.
Fr John Farren told mourners at his funeral at St Columba’s Church, Drung on Sunday that Mr Shortt would be remembered with fun, affection and with gratitude for his commitment to his wife Sally and his family.
As well as having a love of life, he was "very full of energy” and was "always on the go and full of ideas".
“He was strong, healthy, full of life, full of vitality, full of power, full of energy.”
Mr Shortt had left great memories for his family and his friends and had provided work in his community “when there was very, very little work around”.
A man of great courage, Mr Shortt had a gentle soul and “was a larger-than-life character”.
“He was strong, independently minded and stood for himself and the common good. He faced injustice in his own life and was determined to support others who faced injustice.”
Born in Ballyshannon, he moved around the border counties as a child wherever his father Bernard, who was a customs officer, would be posted. The family settled in Quigley’s Point where Bernard opened a small local pub, Shortt’s, which would become The Point Inn nightclub.
His son Jalisco told mourners that Frank would go on to become a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and his interests included poker, gymnastics, swimming, flying lessons, and travelling - much of which he did with his wife Sally.
He was an “exuberant and charismatic figure” who raised his children to “see the beauty” that surrounded them.
“He was never one for backing down when faced with adversity and his optimism was boundless. He lived life to the full”.
Mr Shortt’s daughter Azariah said that while her father was known as “a tough, serious man” he was “thoughtful, kind and had a heart of gold”.
He absolutely loved and adored his wife and children. His philosophy in life “was acceptance and respect for all”.
He was “charismatic, loving, proud, intelligent, confident, determined and a family man to the end.”
Mr Shortt is survived by his wife Sally, sons Jalisco, and his wife Siobhan; Kristian and daughters Natasha, and partner Salvatore; Zabrina and partner Istvan; and Azariah; sister Celia Duggan; grandchildren Reece, Chiara, Fabio, Navarra, Kaymin, Gaetano, Zara, Kristian, Reuben and Abbi.