Fr Thomas Cusack, a Columban missionary executed by Communist forces during the Korean War (1950-53), is recalled by his nephew, Fr Tom Cusack, also a Columban.
Fr Thomas Cusack was born at Ballycotton, Co Clare, in 1910. In 1949, he was appointed Vice-Director of the Region of Korea. He was stationed in Mokpo when the North Korean army overran most of South Korea, including Mokpo. He was taken into custody along with Fr Pat Brennan and Fr Jack O’Brien. All three are presumed to have perished in the general massacre of prisoners at Taejon on the night of 24 September 1950. Their bodies were never found.