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Hanafin pictured in 2002. Gareth Chaney/Photocall Ireland!

Former Fianna Fáil senator Des Hanafin has died

He was aged 86.

Updated at 2.06pm

FORMER FIANNA FÁIL senator Des Hanafin has died, aged 86.

Hanafin, from Thurles in Co Tipperary, was first elected to the Seanad in 1965 after previously serving as a county councillor, and retained his seat until 1993.

He successfully ran again in 1997.

Hanafin was a chairman of the Pro-Life Campaign and launched an unsuccessful legal challenge against the results of the divorce referendum. Most recently he said that people who intended to vote against the same-sex marriage referendum had been treated unfairly.

Both his children also served as Fianna Fáil politicians – former minister Mary Hanafin and former senator John Hanafin.

In a statement, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin expressed his sadness at Hanafin’s death:

His dedication to public service was passed onto both his children: John and Mary, who both went into public life serving as a Senator and as a Government Minister respectively. I know that seeing both his children achieve high office was a source of great pride to him.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to Des’ loving wife, Mona and to his children, at this sad time.

Read: Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil neck and neck in latest poll >

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18 Comments
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    Mute Bill ORourke
    Favourite Bill ORourke
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 2:22 PM

    RIP.
    Agree or disagree with him, he was certainly not afraid!

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 11:22 PM

    @Bill ORourke: He was a grumpy narrow minded man!

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    Mute Tommy Browne
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 4:57 PM

    RIP.
    A man of sound moral principles and Christian conviction.

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    Mute John Reid
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 4:04 PM

    May Des Hanafin rest in peace. He was a patriot.

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    Mute Ken Fitzsimons
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 11:50 PM

    @John Reid: He was an agressive git

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    Mute Michael Heery
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 4:42 PM

    He was the original back room money man with FF,,secret organisation called TACA brown envelopes etc but he was a decent guy,,.

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    Mute Ken Fitzsimons
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 10:04 PM

    Held up divorce in this country for years.

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    Mute john g mcgrath
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 6:26 PM

    Many years ago in the hotel 3 in the morning the bar man said to him “the guards are at the door”
    Well let them out said Des !!!!

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    Mute Declan Carr
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 3:10 PM

    I never heard of him till now, RIP Des.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 3:18 PM

    @Declan Carr:
    He certainly had a high profile back in the 1990′s with is conservative views but that’s a long time ago and a lot has changed.

    RIP.

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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 3:28 PM

    Thankfully we have moved on.

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    Mute Eoin
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    Jun 23rd 2017, 2:57 PM

    One less

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    Mute Teresa Ryan
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 8:07 PM

    Disgusting man.
    Nursed him over years.
    Abusive.

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    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 9:20 PM

    @Teresa Ryan: a comment from someone with direct experience of the man carries real weight.

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