Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

It was with shock and sadness that I learned of the untimely death of my former constituency colleague, former Deputy Seán Doherty. Seán was a political legend in County Roscommon, where he was the last Cabinet Minister from the county. While people will remember many aspects of Seán's life — the Taoiseach outlined his career on the national stage — many more will remember Seán throughout County Roscommon as an effective, efficient and capable constituency Deputy over his long political career.

This is evidenced by the fact that he is one of only two public representatives, in my recollection, who were re-elected to Dáil Éireann after losing their seats in County Roscommon. One was Seán Doherty, the other was his political adversary and my former colleague, John Connor. Those who knew him personally will remember him for his extreme wit and good humour, as someone who could always see the lighter side of life even when times were difficult in his life and his political career.

As someone who grew up in a political family, in the political cockpit that was County Roscommon during the 1980s, I knew Seán well. Most of all he was someone who idolised his family and he will be an immense loss as a husband, father and grandfather. On my behalf and on behalf of my family and the Fine Gael Party organisation in counties Roscommon, Leitrim, Galway and Longford, the areas he represented over his long political career, I express my sincere sympathy to Seán's wife Maura, his daughters Evelyn, Leah, Cara and Rachel and his grandchildren whom he adored, and to the extended Doherty family. May he rest in peace.

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