Michael Fitzpatrick
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
ConstituencyKildare North
Personal details
Born(1942-10-12)12 October 1942
Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland
Died14 October 2011(2011-10-14) (aged 69)
Allenwood, County Kildare, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
SpouseMaureen Roche
Children1
ProfessionGarda, auctioneer

Michael Fitzpatrick (12 October 1942 – 14 October 2011) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected as Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare North constituency at the 2007 general election,[1] and served until 2011.[2]

He was a member of Kildare County Council for the Clane electoral area from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the Garda Síochána from 1961 to 1972. He was the constituency manager in Kildare for former Minister for Finance and European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy from 1992 to 2007.[3] He also was a Kildare mayor.[4]

In 2010, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. In an interview with The Irish Times on 12 March 2010, he said he intended to keep working as a TD.[3]

Fitzpatrick said he had "compared notes" with Brian Lenihan. "We are both on a journey. We talk and chat to one another about our illnesses".[5] He gave a presentation on his condition to the Irish Motor Neurone Research Foundation.[6]

He lost his seat at the February 2011 general election and died that October.[7][8] Fianna Fáil cancelled its Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown, County Kildare as a mark of respect.[4][5] His funeral was in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Allenwood, County Kildare.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Michael Fitzpatrick". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  2. ^ "Michael Fitzpatrick". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. ^ a b McGee, Harry (12 March 2010). "FF TD intends to stay in Dáil despite motor neurone diagnosis". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Michael Fitzpatrick, RIP". Leinster Leader. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b Minihan, Mary (15 October 2011). "Fianna Fáil pays tribute to late former TD Michael Fitzpatrick". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Death of former Fianna Fáil TD who went public with Motor Neurone diagnosis". Irish Independent. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Former Fianna Fáil TD Michael Fitzpatrick dies". RTÉ News. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  8. ^ Taylor, Charlie (14 October 2011). "Former TD Michael Fitzpatrick dies". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  9. ^ Byrne, Luke (17 October 2011). "Fianna Fail out in force for funeral of ex-TD Fitzpatrick". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  10. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (17 October 2011). "Fitzpatrick's life was 'an inspiration'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
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