FORMER FIANNA Fáil TD Michael Fitzpatrick, who died last week from motor neurone disease, was a man whose life was an inspiration to those who knew him, his son said yesterday.
Daragh Fitzpatrick said Mr Fitzpatrick’s election as a TD in 2007 for the Kildare North constituency was the “pinnacle of a life dedicated to public service”.
Mr Fitzpatrick died after being diagnosed in February last year. Despite the severity of his illness, which is terminal, he remained on as a TD and even stood unsuccessfully in this year’s general election.
The former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the current Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin were among a large number of people from the party who turned out for yesterday morning’s funeral service, which was held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Allenwood, Co Kildare.
Other past and present Fianna Fáil politicians who attended included the former EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, who employed Mr Fitzpatrick as his personal assistant in the past, former ministers Pat Carey, Brendan Smyth, Áine Brady and John Maloney.
Daragh Fitzpatrick said his father had lived an extraordinary life from his childhood in Cavan.
He described him as an “inspirational father” who always set high standards for himself.
Mr Fitzpatrick recounted how his father had experienced many ups and downs in politics, eventually getting elected to Kildare County Council for the Clane area.
His election to Dáil Éireann was “just reward for what I consider to be a loyal party man”, he said and his decision to stand in this year’s general election was motivated by a desire to serve his constituents.
