A portrait of Senator Billy Fox has been unveiled by the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann and the Taoiseach at an event in Leinster House marking 50 years since the Senator's death.
The portrait, by artist Nina Rumińska, was commissioned by the Office of Public Works and the event was attended by members of the Fox family, the Minister for Social Protection and TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Heather Humphreys, and serving and former TDs, Senators, and councillors.
Attendees at the event remembering Senator Billy Fox on the 50th anniversary of his death
Speaking on the event, the Cathaoirleach, Senator Jerry Buttimer, stated
I am honoured to unveil the portrait of Senator Billy Fox and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death. Senator Fox was a courageous politician. He was first elected to the Dáil as a Fine Gael TD for the Monaghan constituency in 1969.
Attendees at the unveiling event
During his time as a TD, Billy Fox criticised the British army over its use of plastic bullets for crowd control and the cratering of roads on the Border. He attracted national publicity when he was forcibly removed from the Dáil Chamber during a Dáil debate after displaying two rubber bullets and a tear gas canister he claimed had been fired across the Border by British forces.
The Cathaoirleach noted:
Billy Fox was a broadminded man who tried to understand other points of view. He was often described as a "man ahead of his time" and someone who had worked tirelessly with all his vigour and imagination and empathy for the good of the community.Fifty years may have passed but Billy Fox is still held in huge regard by those who knew him.