Gilmore leads tributes after death of former Labour TD Michael Bell

TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore has led tributes to former Labour TD Michael Bell, who died in the Mater Private Hospital yesterday, aged 74.

He was described by Mr Gilmore as “a political animal” who served 20 years as a TD and “was regarded with great affection by the people of Louth, and the people of Drogheda in particular, right up to his death”.

Mr Bell was first elected to the Dáil for Louth in 1982 and held the seat for Labour until 2002.