TRIBUTES are being paid to a Cwmbran man who devoted his time to helping refugees and asylum-seekers in Newport.

Neil O’Sullivan, 43, died on May 21 at his home after suffering a long illness.

Hundreds attended his funeral at Gwent Crematorium on Wednesday.

He spent many years working with refugees and asylum-seekers as a volunteer with organisations including Newport and District Refugee Support Group, where he acted as vice-chairman, Amnesty International, Newport Communities Against Racism and as organiser of Refugee Week in Newport.

When he was not spending his spare time volunteering, Mr O’Sullivan, who was not married, worked with people with learning difficulties.

Dave Phillips, chairman of Newport and District Refugee Support Group, said: “To say he was vice- chairman doesn’t sum up the work he did.

“He was a volunteer at the drop-in every week, spending time talking to people and pointing them in the right direction. He had a huge amount of time for people and was happy to listen to people talking.”

Mr Phillips said Mr O’Sullivan put a lot of effort into Refugee Week, organising events such as art exhibitions and benefit gigs.

“He was very well known and very active. He was just a very genuine, honest and caring man,” Mr Phillips said.

Pippa Bartolotti knew Mr O’Sullivan for more than ten years through his role as chairman of Newport Amnesty.

She said he was a tireless worker for the group and regularly contacted experts from all over the UK to speak to them.

She said: “Neil was passionate about human rights and preserving the dignity of those whose rights had been denied.”

She said that he promoted the cause of the charity in every way he could.

Ms Bartolotti said: “Neil was a good man, the best; a man who understood suffering, and we will miss him very much.”