President leads tributes to ‘courageous’ Fine Gael TD Nicky McFadden

President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tributes to Longford-Westmeath Fine Gael TD Nicky McFadden who passed away yesterday. The 51-year-old former senator and mother of two adult children, Eoin and Caren, had been battling motor neuron disease since her diagnosis in the summer of 2012.

Ms McFadden hails from a well-known Fine Gael family in Athlone. Her father Brendan, who died last year, was a former mayor of Athlone, a position currently held by Ms McFadden’s sister, Gabrielle.

President Higgins recalled Ms McFadden’s “outstanding contribution as a senator and deputy” and said, “she showed immense courage in continuing her public service after having been diagnosed with a serious illness”.

Mr Kenny, who had visited Ms McFadden last week, extended his deepest sympathy to her family and friends. “I think I speak for everyone in the House when I say we are devastated by the suffering and the passing of Nicky McFadden,” he said. “But if we are, we are also uplifted by Nicky’s magnificent courage, by her insight into this journey and her ability to make some kind of sense, even accord, with the savage uncertainty of life as lived.”

He described her passing on the feast of the Annunciation as appropriate, "because today she begins her new life, free of the suffering that marked her last months on this earth".

'Light beyond darkness'
Mr Kenny said "she brings her goodness with her to that place of life and light beyond the darkness. Nicky was a woman of great joy and I know she will bring that joy with her to her new life, her new place."

A former member of Athlone Town Council, Westmeath County Council and Westmeath VEC, Ms McFadden also served as a director of the Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts Centre and was president of Athlone Guide Dog Association. She was elected to Seanad Éireann in 2007 and appointed Fine Gael Seanad spokeswoman on social and family affairs.

Ms McFadden won a Dáil seat in 2011 and was on Oireachtas committees on Education and Social Protection and Procedure and Privileges.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore recalled her as “somebody who brought a sense of joy to this House, somebody in whose company it was always a pleasure to be, somebody who always had a positive outlook on life and on politics”.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton remembered Ms McFadden as “an extremely respected and popular member of the Dáil” who had a long and proud record campaigning on a range of issues.

Mayor of Westmeath, Cllr Peter Burke (FG), said: “We are all very shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Nicky.”

Mr Burke, who was Ms McFadden’s running mate in the 2007 and 2011 general elections, said he had lost a valued colleague and friend.

Compassion and humour
Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan noted Ms McFadden's "tremendous fortitude and courage in the past year, as she battled with what was a very serious and debilitating illness".

Sympathising with her family, Mr Flanagan said “she brought a great sense of kindness, dedication, compassion and humour to her dealings with everyone. She will be greatly missed by her parliamentary colleagues, who held her in great affection and esteem”.

Neighbour and former Fianna Fáil minister Mary O’Rourke said “she bore her illness with great dignity and courage and I pass my sympathy on to the McFadden family”.

Ms McFadden attended St Joseph’s College in Athlone before completing a diploma in legal studies at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). Last January AIT conferred its highest honour on Ms McFadden, who was formerly a member of the institute’s governing body. Its president, Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, said she brought light and compassion to public life.