Noonan kept wife’s Alzheimer’s disease private during 2002 election battle

MICHAEL Noonan kept details of his wife’s illness from his colleagues while fighting the 2002 general election, several members of the Fine Gael frontbench from that period have said.

They paid tribute to the fact Mr Noonan continued to meet all his political commitments during that time despite his family’s ordeal.

They also praised his courage in discussing his wife Florence’s illness now.