Seán Doherty RIP

I want to express my deep sympathy to the wife and daughters of the late Seán Doherty on hearing the news of his sudden and unexpected death.  My thoughts at this time are with his wife Maura and his daughters Rachael, Cara, Leah and Evelyn.

Seán Doherty and I entered Dáil Eireann together on the same day in 1977.  Seán held high political office as Minister of State at the Department of Justice from 1979 to 1981, Minister of Justice from March to September 1982 and as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad from November 1989 to January 1992.  He also served as a member of Roscommon County Council from 1973 to 1991.

Seán Doherty was a man of very considerable ability and a strong personality.  He inspired the loyalty of his friends and the support of his constituents.  His company and his conversation were sought out and were never ever dull.

After a promising early career in An Garda Siochána he entered politics and enjoyed a career that had it full share of controversy and that was seldom far from the centre of events.

In latter years Seán was also a man of renewed and deep religious belief and I know his faith was a very important part of his life.

He has died just a few weeks short of his sixty first birthday and a few weeks after he buried his own mother.  On my own behalf and on behalf of the Fianna Fáil party I wish to pay tribute to a colleague and a friend of nearly thirty years.

Ar dheis Dé go raibha anam dilís

ENDS

7 June 2005