County Roscommon ‘is numb from north to south’ following death of Cllr John Naughten
The news of Cllr John Naughten's death has left the county reeling in shock. Pic: iStock
Tributes have continued to pour in following the sudden death of the much loved and well respected Fine Gael county councillor, John Naughten, on Friday at his home at Ardkeenan, Drum. The news has left the county reeling in shock.
Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane said the county was numbed by the terrible news of his death.
“John Naughten was a gentleman. At every meeting, at every event, he never made the political personal. I met and walked with him at the protest against rural crime in Castlerea last Sunday. We spoke about his brother (independent TD)Denis and the upcoming election.” She extended her deepest condolences to Cllr Naughten’s family and to her Dáil colleague Denis.
“I am at a loss to find the words, there simply are none. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice said that Cllr Naughten was a “gentleman, a family man and a person that was never offensive nor never played politics, he put people first”.
“He had a genuine interest in community and any time we met, as recently as last Sunday, we would always end up talking about farming or some other topic in which he passionately believed.” He extended his sincere condolences, adding that “when one sees such a tragic loss it put things into perspective”.
Fianna Fáil Senator, Eugene Murphy, who served for years with Cllr Naughten on the local authority, said he was shocked and deeply saddened when he heard the news.
“I was totally distraught. I am broken hearted,” he told the Herald, and he offered his deepest condolences to the Naughten family.
“John never saw anyone as a political opponent, he never saw anyone as an opponent. He did his work and got his message across. People trusted him and time after time, he secured their vote at election time. He was a pure gentleman. The county is numb from north to south, the county is numb.”
His running mate for the forthcoming general election, Dympna Daly Finn, said she was shocked and saddened by the news.
“I am in total disbelief,” she said. “John has been a county councillor since 2004, he had been such a good friend to me and offered so much support and advice since the local elections.
“It is a sad day for Fine Gael and John’s family. He was such a hard working councillor who did so much for the people of South Roscommon and County Roscommon.
“It was an honour for me to be running alongside John in the General Election. We got on so well together with the one aim of gaining the seat back for Fine Gael.” She offered her sincere sympathies to Cllr Naughten’s wife Breda, his children, and the entire Naughten family.
Senator Aisling Dolan said she was deeply saddened to hear the heartbreaking news.
“The sudden loss is a profound shock, and it is a devastating tragedy for all the Naughten family," she said. “My thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.”
Cllr Tom Crosby also offered his condolences, saying they had a close friendship over the past two decades.
“He was an exceptional and skilled politician, widely admired by all parties and independence, the council's executive, and staff,” Cllr Crosby said.
“John played a crucial role as the Fine Gael representative in the negotiations for the new council in June. Working alongside myself, councillors John Keogh of Fianna Fáil, Laurence Fallon, and Emer Kelly from the Independent group, we crafted the council's strategy for the next five years. It was our plan to fully support John Naughten's election as Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council in the upcoming June elections.
“John's remarkable electoral success over the past five council elections and his recent nomination to represent Fine Gael in the upcoming general election endorsed what an exceptional and dedicated public servant he was.”
The Roscommon IFA County Executive said Cllr Naughten was a hard working representative for the local community and for farming, while Chairman of Roscommon GAA Brian Carroll said the news of Cllr Naughten’s passing was heartbreaking. “John will be sadly missed by his family and everyone who was lucky enough to have known him,” he said.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said Cllr Naughten was “a diligent, astute and very hardworking public representative, who would have had a very positive impact in Dáil Éireann”.
“He was a team player who understood his community and wanted only the very best for it,” she said as she offered her deepest sympathies to his family.
