Politics

Pat O’Malley, wife of former FF minister Des O’Malley, passes away

Micheál Martin pays tribute to Tyrone native, describing her as a ‘constant support’

Pat O’Malley (centre) with her husband Des and former minister for health Mary Harney at a Progressive Democrats news conference. Mrs O’Malley passed away on Thursday
Thu Feb 02 2017 - 20:09

The death has occurred of Pat O’Malley, wife of the former Fianna Fáil minister and founder of the Progressive Democrats, Des O’Malley.

Mrs O’Malley died peacefully on Thursday in the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin.

Born Patricia McAleer, Mrs O’Malley was from Omagh, Co Tyrone, and met her husband while studying French and history at UCD.

The couple moved to Limerick following their marriage in 1965, and went on to have six children. Their daughter Fiona was elected a TD for the Progressive Democrats in 2002 in Dún Laoghaire.

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Wholehearted support

In his memoir Conduct Unbecoming, Mr O'Malley paid tribute to his wife, writing: "I could never have done what I did in politics without her wholehearted support. She put up with the absences and the threats."

In a statement the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin paid tribute to Mrs O’Malley, describing her as a “constant support”.

Mrs O’Malley is survived by her husband and their six children, two daughters-in-law, three sons-in-law and 13 grandchildren. Her funeral Mass takes place in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook, in Dublin, on Saturday at 11am.