Una Crawford O'Brien, the long-term partner of Bread star Bryan Murray, has revealed he no longer recognises friends and colleagues as he continues his battle with Alzheimer's disease. The BBC actor, known for playing Shifty Boswell in the Carla Lane-penned sitcom that aired between 1988 and 1991, was diagnosed with the condition in 2019.
Cast and crew still visit
The pair met while working on the RTÉ soap Fair City, where they played husband and wife Renee and Bob Charles. O'Brien said the cast and crew still check in on Murray, although he has no idea who they are.
"Everybody asks about him; he was such a big part of Fair City for so long as well, and I met him there. Our executive producer, Brigie de Courcy, handled Bryan's situation so beautifully, and that has been passed down to the cast and crew. They all want to know how he's doing, and they go out to see him," she said.
Care home admission
Speaking to RSVP, she added: "He doesn't know them when they see him, but that doesn't matter. The stimulation is there, and he enjoys people chatting with him."
In 2025, O'Brien made the difficult decision to admit Murray to a full-time care home. She has since revealed that, while he appears happy there, he also does not recognise her on most occasions when she visits.
Career highlights
Murray only went public with his condition in 2022 but continued to work on Fair City until he announced his retirement in April 2025. He became a huge star thanks to his role in Bread, which won him a BBC Personality of the Year award.
Two years after Bread ended, he played one of the most hated characters in British television when he landed the role of the abusive Trevor Jordache in Brookside. He made his debut on March 8, 1993, and only appeared on screen for around two months.
However, he left a lasting legacy on the programme as the character was brutally murdered by his wife, Mandy (played by Sandra Maitland), to protect their daughter, Beth (Anna Friel). This led to the famous "body under the patio" storyline as they hid his corpse for two years before it was discovered, and they stood trial.
