Jim Mitchell dies in Dublin home

The former Fine Gael Minister, Jim Mitchell, has died at his home overnight, following an illness.

Mr Mitchell was first elected to the Dáil in 1977 but lost out on his Dublin Central seat after the last general election following boundary revisions in his constituency.

During his three decades in the Dáil, he served in a number of Ministries including Justice, Communications and Transport.

One of his most successful positions was as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee during the DIRT Inquiry.

In Feb 2000 Mr Mitchell discovered he had liver cancer and underwent a transplant later that year.

This morning, the 56-year-old succumbed to illness at his home in Dublin. He is survived by his wife Patsy, five children Ruairi, Sinead, Neil, Aoife and Caitriona and his three brothers and three sisters.