Tributes f lood in for a true ‘Irish patriot’

LEO Varadkar has led tributes to former attorney general Peter Sutherland who died yesterday.

Mr Sutherland, 71, died after a long illness, surrounded by family in St James’s Hospital, Dublin

The Taoiseach described Mr Sutherland as ‘a statesman in every sense of the word; an Irishman, a committed European, and a proud internationalist’.

He said: ‘Peter Sutherland had a passion for publicw affairs and made a significant contribution to Ireland, Europe and the world over a number of decades.

‘In recent years he dedicated his skills and extensive experience to serving for the United Nations where he was tireless in highlighting the plight of migrants.

‘Throughout his life, he was a champion for individual and economic freedoms.’

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said: ‘I knew him as a compassionate, driven, global thinker who was always willing to challenge views.

‘His intellect was extraordinary, and he used his talents to be one of Ireland’s most influential people, in business, politics and across human rights globally.’

Mr Sutherland’s family said in a statement he suffered a cardiac arrest in London in 2016 on his way to Mass.

‘He was substantially impacted by this and was in hospitals in London and Dublin since then. Despite great efforts by his medical staff and his own indomitable spirit, he succumbed to an infection,’ his family said.

Michael D. Higgins extended his sympathies to Mr Sutherland’s family and commended his ‘tireless campaigning’ for human rights. ‘His loss will be felt most acutely by his family and friends, and as President of Ireland I wish to express my deepest sympathies to them,’ said Mr Higgins

Micheál Martin praised his contribution to public life in numerous roles as attorney general, European commissioner and first director-general of the World Trade Organization.

‘He was a true patriot who had a great love for his country irrespective of his success on the world stage,’ said the Fianna Fáil leader.

Former taoiseach John Bruton said: ‘I was a very close friend of Peter. He was a great man to cultivate his friendship, was very generous.’

Labour leader Brendan Howlin said: ‘Peter was an Irish giant on the international stage, but a man who never forgot where came from.’

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said: ‘‘The quality, the passion and the commitment of his work for refugees and migrants was fruit of a genuine conviction of his faith.’

‘A great love for his country’

NOT many people manage to make their mark in several areas of Irish life. Fewer still manage to do so on an international basis.

Peter Sutherland, who has died at the relatively young age of 71, was one such man. Tributes flooded in yesterday, describing him as a giant and a patriot.

He is best known in this country for serving as both attorney general and EU commissioner, but his overseas CV is even more impressive. It includes stints as the United Nations special representative for international migration, director-general of the World Trade Organisation, chairman of the prestigious London School of Economics and head of the European Institute of Public Affairs.

Mr Sutherland could be controversial on occasion. But he was an influential figure whose global profile was good for Ireland.

May he rest in peace.