Mr Bruton was ‘a man of principle’ says former TD
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John Hand, John Bruton, Paul McGrath and Ivan Yates at a Cabinet meeting in the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar, 1997.Image 2 of 4
Paul McGrath, John Bruton, Brendan McFadden and Pat Cooney pictured on Bishopsgate Street around 1989.Image 3 of 4
John Bruton, amongst others, at the opening of Paul McGrath’s constituency office in September of 1997.Image 4 of 4
Alan Gillis, John Bruton and Paul McGrath at Mullingar Equestrian Centre in 1999.John Bruton has been remembered as a man of “principles, ideas and integrity” by a former local Fine Gael TD.
Paul McGrath served for 15 years in the Dáil under the leadership of Mr Bruton, between 1989 and 2004.
He told the Westmeath Examiner this week that he had “very fond memories of the time”.
“John was a very decent fellow – a man of principals, ideas and integrity,” said Mr McGrath.
“He was a fine fellow and always worked towards the betterment of the country, and the people of the country, rather than himself.
“He was never in it for personal gain.”
Mr McGrath said the former taoiseach was under appreciated as a leader until recent years.
“When you see the tributes paid to him now, they see John Bruton for what he was,” he said.
“They can see what he did more clearly now and his major achievements.
“Part of his achievements were not heard until very lately and that was his approach to Northern Ireland and his actions in relation to making sure that the peace process happened. He did an awful lot of work in that regard.”
Mr Bruton was “absolutely full of energy” during the years of the rainbow coalition (1994-1997), according to Mr McGrath.
“He worked extremely hard during that time,” he said.
“I was chair of a committee during that period of government and John and I would have had regular meetings looking for updates on what was happening – he was on the ball all the time.
“It was a disappointment all around for him, and for all of us, that after 1997 he wasn’t able to continue as taoiseach.”
Mr McGrath recalled that the former taoiseach was a visionary in terms of identifying the EU’s potential for economic growth in Ireland.
“As it turned out he was spot on,” he said. “His farming background may have given him an insight into that – he had always kept one eye on agriculture, which be believed was important to Ireland.
“Overall, he was a great man, who left a positive mark on the country.”
Mr McGrath said he last spoke to Mr Bruton at a Mass in Boyne, County Meath, “a short few years ago”.
“I had a long chat with him then and I think that’s possibly the last time I spoke to him,” he said.
“I did not know that he was very ill, as most people didn’t know, as the family decided to keep it quite private, which they are of course entitled to do.
“When you read now you see that John was ailing for more than 12 months and he obviously was quite ill.
“Prior to that, he used to be writing numerous articles, and so on, and was extremely active.”