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.

Mr Noonan was Fine Gael leader from February 2001 to June 2002.

He spoke publicly for the first time on RTÉ’s The Frontline programme on Monday about Florence’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He told how she was diagnosed in the late 1990s but was well enough to play a full part in the 2002 general election campaign, although there was “a lot of stress” in the family at that time.

But members of his frontbench from that period were unaware of Florence’s condition and the toll it was taking on the Noonan family.

“I don’t think anybody was aware of it at the time,” Fine Gael TD Jim O’Keeffe, who was foreign affairs spokesman in Mr Noonan’s frontbench, said last night.

“Michael dealt with it privately as best he could.”

News of Florence’s diagnosis “percolated through” some time after the election, he added.

Another FG TD, Brian Hayes, was social affairs spokesman in Mr Noonan’s frontbench. Again, he says it only came to his attention some months after the 2002 election.

“Obviously it was a huge strain on Michael and his family. I saw the interview (on Monday) and was deeply impressed at his courage.”

Mr Hayes suggested people would see Mr Noonan in a different light in the wake of the interview, and that it could help other families in similar situations.

“He’s one of the toughest and most combative politicians around. People have never seen him in that light before, but I think in describing his circumstances, he’ll help others who are confronting their own challenges.”

FG TD Deirdre Clune, who was environmental spokeswoman in Mr Noonan’s frontbench, said the interview would help raise awareness both for the Alzheimer’s Society and for carers, adding: “I thought it was very brave.”

Long-serving Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran said Mr Noonan told no one at the time because he was simply being protective of Florence.

“Fine Gael were fighting an election in very difficult circumstances, and at the same time, he was trying to care for someone at home that he loved very deeply,” Mr Curran said.