Des O'Malley: Founder of Ireland's Progressive Democrats dies

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Des O'Malley (standing) founded and led the Progressive Democrats

Des O'Malley, the founder and former leader of the Republic of Ireland's Progressive Democrats party, has died at the age of 82.

Mr O'Malley served as a TD (member of parliament) from 1968 until 2002.

Originally a member of Fianna F谩il, he held a number of ministerial posts over the course of his political career.

Mr O'Malley, then a solicitor, was first elected in a 1968 by-election to fill his late uncle Donogh O'Malley's Fianna F谩il seat in Limerick East.

In 1970, the 31-year-old was appointed minister for justice under Taoiseach Jack Lynch.

He took a tough line with the IRA, establishing the Special Criminal Court and introducing the Offences Against the State Act.

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In 1985, he was expelled from Fianna F谩il and founded the Progressive Democrats after he abstained in a vote on a bill introduced by the Fine Gael-Labour government to repeal the ban on contraceptives for the unmarried.

Fianna F谩il opposed the bill.

The new party won 14 seats in its first election in 1987, making it the third biggest in the D谩il (parliament).

Two years later Mr O'Malley agreed to form a Fianna F谩il-PD coalition government with Charles Haughey, who he had opposed as leader while a member of Fianna F谩il.

The Progressive Democrats pulled out of government in 1993, after which Mr O'Malley retired as party leader.

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He retired from public life in 2002.

Taoiseach Miche谩l Martin paid tribute to Mr O'Malley, saying he "loved his country and was fearless in challenging those who used violence to undermine it".

T谩naiste (deputy prime minister) and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar described Mr O'Malley as a "giant of politics", who "left a lasting and positive legacy".