Sgt Jack Whelan, the first president of the soldiers' union, was killed yesterday when a fire tender overturned on its way to a blaze at the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare.
Sgt Whelan, who was married with three sons, was trapped in the tender for three hours and died last evening in Naas Hospital. He had been in charge of the tender. No one else was seriously injured.
He was a founding member and president of the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) until May 1994.
The Chief of Staff, Lieut Gen Gerry McMahon, yesterday said Sgt Whelan was a "fine soldier who gave excellent service during his time as president of PDFORRA." The association's general secretary, Mr John Lucey, said Sgt Whelan would be remembered for his work in setting up the soldiers' credit union.