The former Fine Gael TD Dr Hugh Byrne has died, his family have announced.
Dr Byrne – not to be confused with the Fianna Fáil TD of the same name – died peacefully at Mayo Hospital after an illness.
He was a TD for the Dublin North-West constituency from 1969 to February 1982 when he lost his seat to then Sinn Féin – the Workers Party member Proinsias De Rossa.
After failing to retake the seat at a second general election later that year, Dr Byrne did not stand again but concentrated on his medical career as a GP.
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His funeral takes place on Wednesday in Monkstown, followed by cremation in Mount Jerome.
He is survived by his daughter, Judith, by sons, Shane, Peter and Hughbie, and by his brothers and grandchildren.
Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, Leo Varadkar, expressed his condolences on the death of Dr Byrne in a statement on Monday night.
“I am saddened to hear of the passing of former Fine Gael TD, Dr Hugh Byrne,” he said.
“Hugh represented the people of Dublin diligently during his 13 years as a Fine Gael TD. Elected to the Dáil in 1969, Hugh went on to serve under two separate Fine Gael Taoisigh, working closely with both Liam Cosgrave and Garret Fitzgerald during their time in Government. I extend my deepest sympathies to Hugh’s family during this difficult time.”
