Tributes paid to late Tom O’Higgins

LEADERS from across the political divide paid tribute to former chief justice Tom O’Higgins who died yesterday.

Mr O’Higgins, who was 86, was one of the most respected political and judicial figures both in Ireland and abroad.

He was narrowly defeated as a presidential candidate in 1966, when he came within half a percent, or 10,000 votes, of unseating President Éamon de Valera. He introduced the health insurance system when minister for health. Former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald said the former deputy Fine Gael leader’s humanity, humour and intelligence combined to make him a great public servant as a politician, lawyer, and in later years, as a judge in Ireland and in Europe.