Rome honoured veteran MP dies

SIMON MAHON, former Labour MP and Catholic layman, died at the weekend, aged 72.
Labour MP for Bootle from 1955 to 1979, Mr Mahon was educated at St Joseph's Christian Brothers School and St James' School, Bootle.
Initially employed as a ship repairer and contractor, Mr Mahon was, like his father before him, active in local as well as national politics.
An Alderman of Bootle Borough Council for many years, he was Mayor of Bootle from 1962 to 1963.
He was a staunch opponent of many liberal reforms in the law governing such areas as abortion, divorce and homosexuality. He also opposed birth control, being the child of parents, whom he proud* admitted, had nine other children.
Mr Mahon was a commissioned officer during the second world war, when he served in the Royal Engineers.
He combined a strong belief in trade unionism (being a member of the Transport and General Workers Union) with a fervent Catholicism.
For his public work he was awarded by the Pope the ranks of Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.