Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I too would like to express our sympathies to his wife, his daughters, his family and his journalistic colleagues and that family also. He did the State some service, to quote a former Taoiseach. Indeed, his work as a journalist at the time of the peace process was pivotal. It was important that there was someone like him who could be at the receiving end of the very serious and delicate situation that was developing there. There was also his obair stairiúl, historical work, covering the Stardust fire. He was a tremendous advocate for the families of the Stardust victims. He is gone to his happy reward now, at least knowing that there is an inquest going on and we hope that they will finally get justice.

His journalistic colleagues could learn a great deal from him today because if Charlie Bird had been here, I am sure the news that started to emanate this morning at about ten o'clock, he would have had it last night by midnight or maybe very early this morning because he had a great tenacity and a way of finding out the news. We miss him because that news would have been definitely out this morning and everybody would have known about it sooner. On behalf of our group, I wish him eternal peace. He is with us in our thoughts and prayers. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm.

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