Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Oct 1995

Vol. 144 No. 14

Death of Former Member: Expression of Sympathy.

Mr. Manning

Members will have heard with great sadness of the tragic death last weekend of Mrs. Eileen Cassidy. It was a death all the more tragic and harrowing in that the accident which claimed her life also killed her husband, Judge John Cassidy. Mrs. Cassidy was a Member of this House from 1977 to 1981 having been nominated by the then Taoiseach, Mr. Jack Lynch. I did not know Mrs. Cassidy personally but by all accounts she was an extremely conscientious Senator who performed her duties to the highest standards. She was extremely well liked by all the Members. She had a warm, outgoing personality and made her own particular contribution to the House.

On behalf of the Members of the House, I want to extend my sympathy to her family in their tragic loss.

Mr. Wright

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend my sympathy to the sons, daughters and extended family of the late former Senator Eileen Cassidy. The Leader referred to the tragic accident which also, unfortunately, took the life of the late Judge Cassidy. Again, I extend the sympathy of my party to the family.

Mr. O'Toole

In asking to be associated with the views which have been expressed, we are remembering someone whom I did not know either. I do this without any difficulty since the House should always recognise those people who have been happy and content to make a contribution to public life.

We regret the tragic circumstances in which former Senator Cassidy and her husband, Judge Cassidy, died and we extend our sympathy to the family.

Mr. Dardis

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I would like to be associated with this vote of sympathy. I was in County Mayo when the accident occurred and it created a great shock there. We extend our sympathies to the family of the late Senator Eileen Cassidy and her husband.

She was from my part of the country, County Kildare, and everybody to whom I have spoken in the intervening period since the accident spoke very highly of her. The members of Fianna Fáil in Kildare said she was a very able person, someone who made a valuable contribution. From all those points of view, I would like to be associated with this expression of sympathy.

Mr. Magner

The Labour Party wishes to be associated with the remarks made by the Leader in relation to the late former Senator Cassidy and to concur with Senator O'Toole. It is, of course, always proper and fitting that the passing of any former Member of this House should be marked by such expressions.

Mr. Sherlock

On behalf of the Democratic Left, I wish to join with the Leader of the House and other Members in expressing my condolences to the family on a very tragic event.

Mr. Burke

I, too, would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the family of the late Senator Eileen Cassidy and her late husband, Judge John Cassidy. While they were not natives of County Mayo they had adopted it as their county and enjoyed living in the Pontoon area.

Members rose in their places.