Tributes to 'champion for social justice', Dick Walsh

Tributes have been paid to Dick Walsh, the former Irish Timespolitical editor and assistant editor, who died last night at the age of 65.

Dick Walsh: 'Arguably the finest political reporter and commentator of his generation.'

Mr Walsh was the major political writer and commentator in

The Irish Times

from the late 1960s until his retirement last October.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, described him as a man of "strongly-held convictions and independence of mind who was dedicated to the pursuit of his craft".

Mr Ahern said he "found it hard to believe that the man who was for so long at the heart of political life in this country ... was now gone".

The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said he learned of Mr Walsh's death "with great sadness". He said he was a man of great courage and grace, who put the issue of social justice "first and foremost" in his writing.

"Arguably the finest political reporter and commentator of his generation, Dick was a man of fierce independence," he said. "He hated humbug and selfishness, and was always willing to champion causes that others would ignore.

Political discourse and public life in Ireland will be the poorer for his passing. Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte.

"Political discourse and public life in Ireland will be the poorer for his passing," Mr Rabbitte said.

The General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Mr Jeremy Dear, said Mr Walsh, who was an NUJ Member of Honour, embodied all that is best in journalism. "He was a fearless champion for social justice, a man of rare insight who inspired generations of journalists."

The NUJ's Irish Secretary, Mr Séamus Dooley, described Mr Walsh as a journalist and commentator who wrote with style, elegance and passion. "Despite failing health he had not lost his sense of indignation and outrage, his courage in the face of adversity and his commitment to vindicating the rights of citizens."

A native of Ennis, Co Clare, Mr Walsh is survived by his wife Ruth and daughters Francesca and Suzanne.

Mr Walsh began his career in journalism in the early 1960s with the Clare Championand subsequently the Connacht Tribune.

He worked as a journalist in Ireland and England in the regional and national media sectors before joining the Irish Times.