Businessman Ben Dunne has died in Dubai aged 74

Ben Dunne. File photo: RollingNews.ie

Businessman Ben Dunne has died while holidaying in Dubai with a family member, his son has revealed.

Mr Dunne, 74, was on holiday when he suffered a heart attack.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Examiner that it was aware of the death of an Irish citizen in Dubai but did not comment further.

His son Robert said in a social media post: “I’m going to miss him in a way I can’t even describe in words.

“My dad is dead. He had a massive heart attack and just didn’t make it. Simple as that. Overall, in the final analysis, he was a good and decent man”.

Ben Dunne pictured with his wife Mary in 1981. Picture: Lensmen/Irish Examiner

The father of four was a well-known controversial entrepreneur and a former director of the Dunnes Stores chain.

His father had set up the company and it was run by all his children until Mr Dunne split from the company and opened a chain of gyms.

He was born in Cork in March 1949 and prided himself on working since he was in his teenage years, in his family business.

In 1981, he was kidnapped and held hostage for seven days but was later released when a large ransom was paid to the IRA who were responsible for the incident.

It was never disclosed how much was handed over to the IRA for the safe return of Mr Dunne, but it was believed to be in the region of €1 million.