Tributes after sudden death of FF senator

SENATOR Kieran Phelan, a Laois auctioneer and father of five, died yesterday.

The 60-year-old, who was a close friend of Taoiseach Brian Cowen, is believed to have suffered a massive heart attack while eating breakfast in a Dublin city hotel.

Mr Phelan was educated in Roscrea and was married to Mary Clancy. They have four daughters and one son – Fiona, Martina, Brenda, Aisling and Patrick.