The Gazette 1996

GAZETTE

JULY 1996

Solicitor in the News - John O'Donoghue, TD

responsibilities. O'Donoghue remembers standing with his mother outside Cahirciveen courthouse on fair day while she conducted auctions. She also worked as an agent for Hibernian Insurance, drove a taxi, ran a draper's shop and was a member of Kerry County Council. "She became only the second woman, after Kit Ahern, TD, to chair Kerry County Council. She was a liberated woman before the concept was ever dreamed up." O'Donoghue decided to study law as a means of gaining a foothold in politics. O'Donoghue decided to study law as a means of gaining a foothold in politics. "I have always regarded the legal profession as the very best route into politics. One learns a certain discipline of thought and expression as well as a certain erudition in one's public > statements" He met up with his wife, Kate Ann Murphy, the daughter of the Cork South West Labour TD, Michael Pat Murphy, while studying law in Earlsfort Terrace. "Kate was always at me to go in to visit Leinster House. I told her that I would go in when I was elected as a TD! That was the level of my determination." John got advice and assistance from old family contacts such as John Clifford, now a district justice and , senior counsel, Hugh O'Flaherty, now a member of the Supreme Court. O'Flaherty had grown up across the road from the O'Donoghue home and O'Donoghue recalls visits to the house made by his uncle, Monsignor O'Flaherty , who became known during World War Two as the

by Kyran FitzGerald* We are all pretty concerned about the country's crime wave, but South Kerry TD, John O'Donoghue, has more reason to interest himself in issues of law and order than most. As Fianna Fail spokesperson on Justice, O'Donoghue has been given the job of marking Nora Owen. He stands a good chance of eventually inheriting what has become the hottest perch in Irish politics. Just forty years old, this up-and- coming Cahirciveen based politician has the careworn look of a man who knows that sooner or later he could be asked to take a few slugs froma poisoned chalice. Over the past eighteen months, O'Donoghue and his Fianna Fail colleague, Willie O'Dea, the party's spokesman on law reform have, on occasions, given the embattled Minister a torrid time in the Dail. In recent weeks, there have been hints that the Minister's critics may have overextended themselves, with Owen starting to benefit from a modest wave of sympathy within the media. Sympathisers points out that she inherited an unravelling situation and has been forced to operate without the full support of her cabinet colleagues. But her opposite number has undoubtedly been quick to capitalise on the popular mood which favours a law and order crackdown directed at the godfathers of crime, in particular. O'Donoghue's timing in introducing legislation aimed at tracking down and seizing the assets of people benefiting from organised crime was impeccable - if tragically so.

John O'Donoghue, TD

the War of Independence, a man who would have no truck with bitterness as his son recalls. "There was almost a refusal on his part to discuss the civil war. He was not a divisive figure." With six children to rear, O'Donoghue Senior had to be entrepreneurial.

O'Donoghue has a strong political pedigree

Having originally worked as a telegraph office worker in London, he built up a many sided career as afish and turkey merchant, hackney driver, publican, auctioneer and insurance agent. "My father as an auctioneer handled the sale of the rail property following the disgraceful decision to close down the line to Valentia Harbour." His son looks on his father's generation with awe. "They were tremendous patriots. They were proud of their role in building up the state. They wanted to build on what they had achieved." On her husband's death, O'Donoghue's mother, Mary O'Sullivan, took on all his business

O'Donoghue has a strong political pedigree. His father, who died in 1964, was a much respected veteran of

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