Huge shock at the death of Rathnew’s Charlie Melia (48)

A SENSE of great shock greeted the news of the sudden passing of political commentator and IT expert Charlie Melia on Friday.

Charlie established www.wicklowwatch.com to hold those in public office accountable for their actions, with the website focusing on allegations of corruption within County Wicklow and elsewhere.

His funeral takes place today, Wednesday, April 25, at 11 a.m. in St Joseph’s Church, Rathnew, followed by his interment in Rathnew Cemetery.

Aged 48, Charlie was the son of the late Charlie Snr and Catherine, having been born and bred in Rathnew. He attended St Ernan’s National School and later went on to attend St Patrick’s National School and St Joseph’s De La Salle in Wicklow town.

At Monday’s meeting of Wicklow Municipal District, a minute’s silence was held in Charlie’s honour. Cllr John Snell paid his own tribute having attended school with Charlie in St Ernan’s NS.

He said: ‘Charlie was the envy of all his young friends in the Senior Football Final in 1978 as he knelt in front of his father Charlie Senior, along with his uncle Kevin, as they lined up for the team photo before going on to claim a historical final victory that has gone down in ‘ The Thatched Village’ folklore. I considered him a good friend.

‘He thrived in the IT world and went on to dedicate himself to ensuring accountability was upheld in public office. He was fiercely loyal to his mother Catherine and sisters, Shauna and Mairead. I know a lot of political parties courted his membership but he always remained independent and always remained loyal to his own beliefs,’ said Cllr Snell.

In his youth, Charlie played juvenile football for Rathnew GAA Club and was part of the Rathnew squad defeated in the final of the 1982 All Ireland feile. Like his father, he was also a keen runner. Charlie Snr was involved with the backroom staff who helped Rathnew win the 2001 Leinster Senior Club Championship.

Charlie Jnr became heavily involved in the IT sector and spent some years working in the USA for his uncle, the late Kevin Melia.

After returning to the Garden County, he settled down in Arklow. He was director of sales for profitsflow.com from 2009 to 2012 and was involved with Realistic Mentoring from 2011 up to his passing.

Charlie is survived by his partner Helena, mother Catherine, sisters Shauna and Mairead and their spouses Pat and Alan, his nieces and nephews, extended family and close circle of friends.