THE DEATH has taken place of former Defence Forces chief of staff Lieut Gen Tadhg O’Neill.
Lieut Gen O’Neill died yesterday in Peamount Hospital, aged 82.
He is survived by his wife Emer and daughters Orla, Niamh and Emer, and extended family.
Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea extended his condolences, saying Lieut Gen O’Neill was respected and highly regarded, and would be sadly missed.
Lieut Gen O’Neill was born in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, and served as an artillery officer at home and overseas on a number of UN missions.
His career started with the Southern Command in Ballincollig, Co Cork, and he served with the United Nations in the Congo, Lebanon and Cyprus.
He also served extensively as staff officer in various appointments in Defence Force headquarters.
Lieut Gen O’Neill commanded the second field artillery regiment from 1979 to 1981, prior to his service in Lebanon.
There, in a tour of duty, he served first as senior operations officer and subsequently as military assistant to Lebanon’s force commander in the UN forces.
From 1984 to 1986, he was general officer commanding the Western Command.
In 1986 he assumed the position of chief of staff until his retirement in 1989.
The removal of his remains will take place today from Peamount Hospital in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, at 5.30pm.
Funeral Mass will take place at 11am tomorrow, followed by burial at Newlands Cemetery with full military honours.