Death announced of Athlone District Court judge Seamus Hughes

The death has been announced of Seamus Hughes, the sitting district court judge for Athlone, Mullingar, and Longford since 2011.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin today led tributes to the Mayo native, who was in his 70th year.

Judge Hughes was due to retire this year. He presided over district court sittings in Athlone for more than a decade, but had battled illness in more recent times.

A former county councillor, served as a TD for West Mayo between 1992 and 1997.

He was born in 1952, the third eldest in a family of 13, and was a long-time Fianna Fáil party member.

A qualified solicitor, Mr Hughes was appointed State Solicitor for Mayo in 2000 and then served as a District Court Judge from 2009.

He initially worked as a judge in Donegal, before being appointed to Court District Nine, which includes Athlone, taking up this role in March 2011.

He was a keen athlete, and ran the Dublin City Marathon in 1984 with his seven brothers, which resulted in their entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Commenting on his death, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "I am deeply saddened at the passing of Seamus Hughes, someone who served the people of Westport with distinction as a TD and Councillor.

"I knew Seamus very well, as a colleague in the Dáil, and later in his time as a District Court Judge.

"He was a very calm, measured and decent individual. A thorough gentleman.

"My deepest sympathies to his wife Maria and children, Colin, Emmet, Sarah and Donal.

"Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis."