Former political advisor PJ Mara has died

PJ Mara has died, aged 73.

The former Fianna Fáil strategist and advisor to Charlie Haughey passed away in hospital in Dublin overnight following a long illness.

He is survived by his partner and two children.

In a statement this morning, Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin described him as a "true original" who brought immense humour, judgement and commitment to his role.

PJ Mara was first known to many through Dermot Morgan's portrayal as Charlie Haughey's henchman on Scrap Saturday.

But that portrayal only scratched the surface of his contribution to Haughey and Fianna Fáil.

He joined as its press secretary in 1983 - and after four years work helped guide the party back into power in 87, then becoming government press secretary

Former Fine Gael TD and Senator Maurice Manning was a close friend - he has said PJ had friends across the political divide: “I know when I was first in Fine Gael, that we ascribed diabolical powers to him, I mean we thought he really was the master of the black arts,

“And he wasn’t bad at the black arts of politics,

“But I got to know him, we both liked a pint, we both had a bit of a sense of humour and saw the world in a bit the same way,

“And that friendship grew over 30 years and even in the height of an election campaign we would sit down and have a pint.”

Fianna Fáil TD Willie O'Dea has said PJ bridged the gap in the party, created by Charlie Haughey: “PJ was the lad who softened Haughey’s hard edges and retained a bridge even to the most determined dissidents

“Behind all that, affability and personability, they lurked in a very very shrewd, very acute brain,

“He was a first class political operator, first class public relations man and really an all rounder.”