Complex sentence: His father, who was involved in the building trade, was a staunch supporter of Irish independence his entire life and had arrived in Western Australia in 1868 after being convicted and transported for taking part in a Fenian uprising a few years earlier.
Split into simpler sentences: His father, who was involved in the building trade, was a staunch supporter of Irish independence his entire life. Hugh Brophy had arrived in Western Australia in 1868 after being convicted and transported for taking part in a Fenian uprising a few years earlier.