THE WIFE of the late businessman, Patrick Rocca, has said she was hurt by the way some of the media reported the death of her husband.
In a statement issued last night she said there were no significant financial issues affecting him and she would be referring to the Press Ombudsman “many of the inaccuracies and reckless reporting” of the circumstances surrounding his death on Monday.
In the statement issued by her solicitors, Lavelle Coleman, Mrs Annette Rocca, said that her husband had taken his own life but expressed hurt at what she described as “misinformed commentary on his financial affairs”.
The Rocca family are well known in business circles through their companies, Rocca Tiles and Tilebusters.
They sold a majority stake in the business and Patrick Rocca later developed substantial property interests in Ireland and abroad. Both he and Mrs Rocca were also well-known figures on the Dublin social scene.
Mrs Rocca’s statement read: “I am heartbroken and devastated at the loss of my beloved husband Patrick. On behalf of our two sons and the extended Rocca family, I would like to express my hurt at the way that some of the media have chosen to report on the death of my husband this week.
“Callous speculation on why and how he took his own life and misinformed commentary on his financial affairs was deeply hurtful to all of us and does a disservice to his memory.
“Patrick was a wonderful husband, an exceptional father and family man and a substantial businessman.
“He was a special person and was the centre of our lives. As a couple and as a family we enjoyed an active social life and often featured in the social pages of the media. If this part of our lives gives some media the right to declare ‘open season’ on us and intrude on our grief with reckless reporting and ill-informed comment then it is time to ask some fundamental questions about the values and ethics of sections of the Irish and international media.
“We are bringing to the attention of the Press Ombudsman many of the inaccuracies and reckless reporting of the last week and hope action can be taken to avoid other families being subjected to similar treatment.
“It is important to me and our family that the record is set straight and the memory and reputation of Patrick Rocca is restored.
“As recently as last week Patrick had a meeting with his advisers and based on the details discussed at that meeting, there are no significant financial issues that would have affected him or his business prior to his death.”