Former Minister for Justice Seán Doherty was gravely ill in a Co Donegal hospital last night after suffering a brain haemorrhage on Saturday night.
Mr Doherty (60), his wife Maura and members of their family were on a weekend break in Donegal when he suddenly took ill. He was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital where he was in intensive care last night.
One of his daughters, Evelyn, was returning home from Korea yesterday to be with her family. His other three daughters Rachel, Leah and Cara were with him last night. Mr Doherty's mother died just last month.
Based in Cootehall, Boyle, Co Roscommon, Mr Doherty was a controversial minister for justice during the short-lived Fianna Fáil government in 1982, led by Charles Haughey.
During that time he signed warrants for the tapping of the telephones of journalists Bruce Arnold and Geraldine Kennedy, and the controversy ensured he never returned to Cabinet. First elected to the Dáil in 1977 he lost his seat in the 1989 general election. He was elected to the Senate, serving as Cathaoirleach before being re-elected to the Dáil from which he retired at the 2002 general election.
He also served as a member of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee which carried out the inquiry into the evasion of Dirt tax. Constituency colleagues from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael last night expressed shock at the news.
Fianna Fáil deputy Michael Finneran said he was "very distressed to hear the bad news and that Seán's condition worsened during the night. We are all very concerned and we hope he pulls through." Fine Gael Senator Frank Feighan, from Boyle, Co Roscommon, said the news came as a great shock.
"Although I am Fine Gael and Seán is Fianna Fáil I am shocked to hear the news of his condition and just hope that he makes a full recovery." Senator Feighan was in London at a golf classic attended by other politicians including Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and front bench member Phil Hogan.
"We would like to wish Seán well. He is in our prayers," he said.