‘Trusted and admired’ court reporter Aodhan O’Faolain dies aged 50
Aodhan O’Faolain passed away at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin yesterday evening
National and local tributes have been paid to journalist Aodhan O’Faolain who has died aged 50.
Mr O’Faolain, who had been diagnosed with cancer, worked as a reporter on High Court, Appeal Court, and Supreme Court cases for national media organisations. Mr O’Faolain was from Summerhill, Athlone, in South Roscommon, and was a very well known and popular figure.
Cllr John Keogh expressed his sincere condolences last night at the news of his passing.
“I knew Aodhan for a long time, initially from my days in secondary school and then subsequently in his role as a legal correspondent reporting from the Four Courts. We used to chat regularly when I would meet him, normally in the Round Hall, where he would be reporting on some case in the superior courts of national importance,” the Fianna Fáil councillor said.
“He had his finger on the pulse politically as well, of course, always clued in on what was happening nationally and locally in Roscommon and Westmeath. He was a great conversationalist, was charismatic, and had an impressive intellect. I doubt that there were many within the legal profession who didn’t know him or who hadn’t spoken to him at some point or another over the many years he was reporting from the Courts of Justice. I have no doubt his presence will be greatly missed and his style of reporting will be difficult to replicate. Another young man gone way too soon, but he will be remembered fondly, I have little doubt.”
Athlone FC also expressed its sadness and extended its heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife Janet, his parents Mícheál and Maura, and his brothers Eoin and Ronan and all his extended family at this difficult time.
"Aodhán was a lifelong supporter of Athlone Town AFC and a valued member of our club family. As our former Media Officer, he gave his time, passion, and talent to promoting the club he loved," the club said. "Aodhán’s love for sport was clear to all who met him. He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him."
As reported in the Irish Times, highly respected court reporter Ray Managh, who worked with Mr O’Faolain for many years in the High Court, said: “Aodhan was especially trusted and admired for his professionalism and work ethic, his ever-present chirpy smile and his most casual of dress codes, a standout feature amid the austere garb of the judicial and legal eagles who deeply respected and admired him...
“Integrity is defined as moral uprightness, honesty, wholeness and soundness, a single word that describes Aodhan O’Faolain as the outstanding person he was in his personal and professional life. No other news reporter acknowledged better the importance and humanity of integrity in his caring court coverage of some of the saddest civil and criminal cases he had been called upon to cover.”
Mr Managh noted “Aodhan was an avid supporter of the Irish rugby and soccer teams” as well as Connacht Rugby and Athlone Town AFC for which he had frequently acted in a public relations capacity.
National Union of Journalists president Gerry Curran, who works as media relations adviser to the Courts Service, said: “It is with great sadness that I have heard of the passing of Aodhan. He was the nicest, most polite and accommodating of people. Through our media work in the courts, I often dealt with him: his inquisitiveness and curiosity about life was reflected in his copy, as much as his manners and decency were reflected in his actions.
“He brought much understanding of the process of law to so many, by simply telling us what happened in an accessible and no-nonsense way. He will be greatly missed as a reporter, as a friend to so many, and as a great supporter of his trade union.”
Among those paying tribute to Mr O'Faolain was Attorney General Rossa Fanning.
Mr Fanning described Aodhan as "a scrupulously fair court journalist who documented the ebb and flow of Ireland’s economy from the journalist’s bench in the High Court’s Chancery list".
Mr Fanning said Mr O'Faolain would be remembered for his professionalism and integrity and would be sadly missed by the generation of judges and barristers whose work he chronicled.
Mr O’Faolain, who formerly worked at Clonmel Nationalist newspaper, passed away at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin yesterday. He is survived by his wife Janet, and parents Micheal and Maura.
