Father Bob Maguire’s disturbing final post before his death is revealed

Much-loved Catholic priest Father Bob Maguire claimed he was being ‘ambushed by treacherous enemies’ in his final post before his death on Wednesday at 88. 

The larrikin Melbourne icon and one-time Triple J radio star had just last week reassured friends, family and supporters that ‘everything’s alright with me’.

But sadly, he passed away in Melbourne’s Cabrini hospital on Wednesday, his family confirmed.

Father Bob complained of ‘treachery’ and claimed he had been sacked by the charity he founded, two days before he died. 

And his disturbing final tweet has now been shared by supporters, where he claimed: ‘MSM please help me survive ambush by treacherous frenemies…sad I am.’

It’s unclear what Fr Bob was referring to but, two days before his death, he publicly hit out at the charity in his own name, the Father Bob Maguire Foundation, after the board announced last week he had voluntarily stepped down as chairman.

 Fr Bob claimed he was blindsided by his termination, describing the situation as a ‘bloody mess’.

Father Bob’s disturbing final tweet has now been shared by supporters

‘It’s nasty … I’ve known these blokes for years but they have turned treacherous,’ he told the Herald Sun on Monday in what would be his final interview.

‘I’m not used to this, we always ran the show as a fighting unit, I’m the commander in chief. We’re hurt but we aren’t out.’ 

The foundation’s board refuted that Father Bob had been sacked in a lengthy statement on Tuesday. 

They insisted that he was not sacked from the board – but was simply no longer eligible to be on it. 

‘There have been many grossly ill-informed and patently wrong assertions made, often by people who have never met him or worked with him saying that it’s all a conspiracy by the Board to get rid of Fr Bob,’ the board said on the foundation’s website.

Hours after the drama, Fr Bob’s family confirmed he died at Cabrini Hospital, in suburban Malvern, on Wednesday morning. 

In recent times, the priest had been living in a retirement home in order to receive 24 hour respite care. 

His family insisted that he had been deteriorating for some time, both physically and mentally. 

‘Father Bob was a dear and much-loved member of our family and will be sorely missed for his energy and good humour,’ the statement read.

‘His physical and mental health had been deteriorating for some time, but his preference was always to help others rather than consider his own situation,’ his family said.

‘Father Bob was not just a much-loved family member, but was loved by all Australians for what he stood for. He has fought bravely for the underprivileged and homeless all his life. He represented the highest of principles, and he fought to actively live those principles.’

Fr Bob claimed he was blindsided by his termination, describing the situation as a ‘ bloody mess’

Father Bob shared a video Facebook message to his followers just six days before his death

‘Despite his high profile in the media, he was always on the job, especially for the disadvantaged families and individuals for whom he had great love and compassion. 

‘He wanted nobody to be left behind and always saw and believed in the good in people, but he knew that there were many whom he referred to as the unloved and unlovely. These were his real passion.

‘The last few months have been very difficult for both the family and for those around Fr Bob as we managed his declining health. We thank all the medical staff who have attended him in recent months and express our gratitude to them for their work and devotion.’

Fr Bob dedicated his life to the Catholic church and charitable work. He gained a reputation as a candid commentator who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind or call out church leaders, particularly on his radio show with John Safran. 

Father Bob appeared frail but in good spirits when he shared a Facebook video message from his aged care facility last week, hinting an ‘event’ would soon be announced.

‘I’m just sending out a little reassurance to you that everything’s alright with me,’ Father Bob said.

‘In fact, I’ll leave this place very soon and I’ll return to Albert Park and we’ll continue our expedition to make sure nobody gets left behind and we’ll continues that as soon as I can get back.’

‘I’m very grateful to you for your concern, consideration and compassion and there’ll be an announcement soon about an event.’

Father Bob assured everyone he was ‘back on the right track.’  ‘I’ve got my legs back and I’ve got all kinds of good things happening,’ he reassured.

‘I might even get an infusion of immunoglobulin that restores mobility.’

‘We’ll be back after the break as they say, so thank you, thank you and thank you.’ 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the outpouring of tributes.

‘With the passing of Father Bob, we have lost a great Australian. An irrepressibly cheerful champion for all those battling disadvantage, he dedicated his life to brightening the lives of those most in need,’ Mr Albanese said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns declared Australia had just lost a hero.

‘The people’s priest. A social justice warrior. And a man who dedicated his life to faith and standing up for those most vulnerable,’ he said.

Entertainment commentator Peter Ford added: ‘Amazing man. What a life of giving and serving.’

A-League club Melbourne City FC also paid tribute.

‘A Melbourne icon and a legend of our city, we had the pleasure of working with Father Bob on a number of occasions through our CITCMelbourne programs and he’ll be sorely missed,’ the club said.

Vale Father Bob Maguire: His incredible life story

Born in 1934 to Scottish immigrants in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury, Fr Bob had lost two sisters and both parents by the time he was 16.

He was ordained as a priest in 1960 at the age of 25. 

Father Bob first became known for his work with disadvantaged people in his South Melbourne parish, before regularly appearing in national media.

Father Maguire was parish priest of St Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in South Melbourne for almost 40 years from 1973.

He first worked with broadcaster John Safran in 2004 on SBS’s John Safran vs God, with the duo going on to host radio programs on ABC’s Triple J for a decade.

The pair were often referred to as an odd couple and covered many topics including religion, culture and politics with a side of irony and humour.

Father Bob balanced his media commitments and parish duties until he was forced to retire from the Catholic Church.

Tributes are pouring in for the self-described larrikin known universally as Father Bob

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured next to Fr Bob a year ago) has paid tribute to the Melbourne icon as an irrepressibly cheerful champion for all those battling disadvantage

He was first asked to resign at the age of 75 in line with canon law but managed to stay on for another two years, even after a public spat with then Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart over finances.

In 2011, he accused Cardinal George Pell of punishing him for being ‘open to all’ and described his exit as a ‘dishonourable discharge’.

‘George Pell has declared those of us Vatican II-ists to be Cafeteria Catholics whereas he and his lot are authentic Catholics,’ Father Maguire said at the time.

He performed his last service to a packed crowd of more than 1000 people in 2012.

His final years as parish priest were depicted in the documentary film In Bob We Trust, which includes snippets of his run-ins with church figures.

‘I’m going to explain to a senior cleric why we’re spending money on the poor,’ he told filmmakers.

‘Now to me that’s offensive, not only intellectually but religiously and spiritually.’

He was ordained in Melbourne at the age of 25 and was a chaplain for conscripted Australian soldiers heading to Vietnam for several years.

Fr Maguire was then appointed to the parish of Saints Peter and Paul’s in South Melbourne in 1973, where he stayed for the next 39 years.

He encouraged people from all walks of life to take part in the community that he helped nurture, and fiercely advocated on behalf of them.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for services to youth homelessness and went on to collect other accolades including Victorian of the Year in 2011 and Victorian Senior of the Year in 2022.

Father Bob (pictured in 2006) dedicated his life to the Catholic Church

Fr Maguire co-founded national homeless youth organisation Open Family Australia in 1978 and later conducted his charity work through the Father Bob Maguire Foundation.

It offers vulnerable people in Melbourne’s inner southeast free meals, education programs, advocacy services and other outreach programs.

On April 14, 2023 the foundation advised that Fr Maguire had stepped down as chairman and board member.

He was never afraid to wade into political discussions and in December 2022 told AAP far greater action was needed to be taken on the ‘national disaster’ of homelessness.

‘A national characteristic is that we’re kind to one another because we’re a land of migrants, refugees,’ he said.

In the same interview he urged Australians to ‘brighten up’ and focus on what gave them joy.

‘You are a child of the universe, you’ve got a right to be here and all the talents needed not only to survive but to flourish,’ he said.

‘I’m a Collingwood supporter and the motto is ‘Floreat Pica’, ‘let the magpie flourish’, and I think that’s what we have to do not to survive but for God’s sake to flourish!

‘Sing and dance in the street … otherwise the dark side says ‘good, I’ve got ’em’.’

Funeral arrangements for Fr Bob will be made in due course/