Tributes have been paid by all the political parties today after the death of Mr John Lucey, general secretary of PDFORRA, the permanent Defence Forces representative association.
Mr Lucey (56) from Cork, died yesterday near Carrauntuohill, Co Kerry, during a hill-walking tour of the Magillicuddy Reeks mountains.
Another member of the group, 35-year-old Ms Joan O’Leary, also died when the two fell into a gully near Lough Duff, three miles south of Carrantuohill.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith said: "He had a rare gift of being able to act as a forthright advocate on behalf of his members while at the same time maintaining the friendship and respect of all those with whom he had dealings."
Fianna Fáil deputy Mr Sean Power said Mr Lucey had been his "very good friend over a long number of years" and said he would be "sorely missed by all his colleagues and wide circle of friends".
He said Mr Lucey had made a major contribution to developing representation in the Defence Forces, and said he hoped Mr Lucey’s family would draw consolation from his achievements.
Fine Gael’s deputy spokesman on justice and defence, Mr Billy Timmins said "Mr Lucey was the driving force behind PDFORRA and had gained respect, right across the board, as an able and dynamic secretary general". He said the defence forces would be "poorer for his passing".
Mr Jack Wall of Labour said Mr Lucey had represented PDFORRA members well, and credited him with showing that "it was possible to have a strong and vigorous representative organisation for members of the Defence Forces without impinging on the order and discipline of the Defence Forces".