The former Independent TD and long-time campaigner for hospital facilities in Co Roscommon, Mr Tom Foxe, has died after a long illness. Mr Foxe, who was a Dail deputy from 1989 to 1997, was elected under the banner of the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee.
He was first elected to the Dail at the 1989 general election for the three-seat Roscommon constituency, taking the seat of the former Fianna Fail minister, Mr Sean Doherty.
Mr Foxe was not politically active before being persuaded to contest the election. However, he did a "deal" to support the 198992 Fianna Fail-PD coalition in return for the upgrading of facilities at Roscommon hospital.
He was returned for Longford-Roscommon in 1992 but lost his seat in 1997. Mr Foxe was born in Kilteevan, Co Roscommon, in June 1937. An agricultural science graduate from UCD, he became an agricultural adviser and publican. He is survived by three sisters.