David Norris (Independent)

Like everybody else, I was greatly shocked when I heard of the illness and subsequent death of Seán Doherty. He was a remarkable man and a great storyteller. I have heard some of those stories. I understand that immediately prior to his death he was on holiday with his family in Donegal, in tremendous form and telling stories. He was at the heart of the party, as always.

I am grateful to my colleagues for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of all the Independent Senators, to express our sympathy to the family of Seán Doherty. He was clever, witty, sophisticated and had a touch of the seanchaí about him — a description he would enjoy. He had an interesting way of talking, used rather oblique language and sometimes even referred to himself in the third person.

There has been some mention of the controversial periods in his life. I was involved at one stage in the Seanad when there was a row and we took lumps out of each other. I felt Mr. Doherty was part of a gombeen culture so I took certain actions and we fought it out. In that instance I was successful, but there was no rancour or ill-feeling between us, which was remarkable. Within 24 hours he would make the issue into a wonderful story.

I think I repaid him in part because when the empire of newspapers of Mr. Rupert Murdoch — not somebody I admire — got involved in a legal case against him, it tried to get me to be a witness. I refused and ignored their letters. Then one day when I was taking a tutorial in Trinity there was a bang on the door. Somebody stood there with papers in his hand and said: "David Norris?" I said: "How dare you make such a vile accusation. I am a respectable man," and I slammed the door. I told Seán Doherty about it afterwards and he rather enjoyed it.

After this troubled period, Seán Doherty entered what was probably the most distinguished part of his career, in particular, on the Committee of Public Accounts, where his fine intellect was brought to bear on the difficulties faced by society. This was combined with a renewed interest in religious matters which gave him a strong faith that sustained him at the end. I hope it also sustains his family, his wife and daughters, to whom, on behalf of the Independent Senators, I am honoured to express our genuine sympathy on the loss of this colourful character we enjoyed in this House and with whom we sometimes fought. That is the nature of human affairs, particularly in politics.