The Irish Mail on Sunday

A man who wasn’t afraid to tackle chicanery

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THE most talked about business news story last week barely rippled in the media beyond a death notice and an obituary. Details of James Osborne’s tragic death were omitted to respect the privacy of those who loved him.

We have lost a powerful advocate for shareholde­rs in the boardrooms of some of the most successful Irish and internatio­nal companies. He was an officer (of the court) and an Anglican gentleman consistent­ly confrontin­g chicanery among executives and directors.

It is no coincidenc­e that he was a close friend and advisor to our most successful internatio­nal businessma­n, Michael O’Leary.

Mr Osborne – who famously resigned as chairman of Independen­t News and Media – said he was going to a board meeting last Thursday week and was found dead the next day in a boathouse he owned near Milford, in his beloved Co. Donegal.

Although born in Devon where his father was a Royal Navy commander, he grew up in Milford. He was a brilliant student at Trinity College (where a memorial service was held on Friday), and his meteoric legal career began after graduation.

Within six years of joining A&L Goodbody he was a partner, and voted managing partner three years later.

He retired at 45 and was appointed to the board of Bank of Ireland and dairy company Golden Vale. He continued as a corporate consultant.

Ten years ago he separated from his wife, Heather, with whom he had a son and a daughter. He also had a daughter with model and newspaper columnist Patricia Devine.

All of them were at a private cremation ceremony last Wednesday and a public memorial service on Friday.

He already has one grandchild, and both his son’s partner and older daughter are currently expecting babies.

A doting father and grandfathe­r, he had no financial worries, no health concerns and his family life was contented, according to friends. And that makes his death at 68 all the more sad and puzzling.

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