'A true Irish republican': Martin Mansergh, former Fianna Fáil TD and advisor, dies aged 78

Martin Mansergh took on a key role during the peace process alongside Bertie Ahern, being involved in getting an IRA ceasefire over the line and in the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement

Martin Mansergh

Former Fianna Fáil TD and advisor Martin Mansergh has died at the age of 78.

Mr Mansergh passed away during a trip to North Africa with a number of former parliamentarians.

Originally a Fianna Fáil advisor, Mr Mansergh was brought into the party by then-taoiseach Charlie Haughey. He took on a key role during the peace process alongside Bertie Ahern, being involved in getting an IRA ceasefire over the line and in the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement.

In the 2002 general election, Mr Mansergh first stood for election in Tipperary South, but failed to get over the line and received just 14.2% first preference votes.

However, he took a seat in the Seanad on the Agricultural panel later that year, before becoming a TD in 2007.

He was elevated to the post of junior minister in 2008, after Brian Cowen was elected Taoiseach, before he lost his Dáil seat in 2011 amid the financial crisis.

Mr Mansergh was originally born in Woking, England to Tipperary-born historian Nicolas Mansergh and his wife Diana Mary.

'One of Ireland's most important public servants'

Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it was with “deep sadness” he learned of Mr Mansergh’s passing, adding that he is a huge loss.

“I had the honour of knowing Martin for over four decades. He was unquestionably one of the most important public servants in our recent history, filling many different roles and having a profound impact on issues deeply important to the Irish people,” Mr Martin.

“Of course, his contribution to securing peace on this island marks him as a figure who will always be honoured. His early, secret negotiations in Belfast on behalf of taoisigh and his work through more than a decade were essential in securing the peace settlement and the overcoming of many later hurdles.

“Martin was a one-off. A true Irish republican. A man of great accomplishments who leaves a proud history.” 

Mr Martin added from New York: "He was also a TD, senator and minister of state. Very few people experience those different roles, being a key advisor to a number of taoisigh, an advisor to Bertie Ahern afterwards, and then also to be a member of parliament. He loved politics, and he loved public service, and he was deeply, deeply interested, not just in Irish matters, but in European affairs.

"I remember when I was minister for education, when he advised me to take particular care of small rural Presbyterian schools on the border, and it showed that we looked after them as evidence of Ireland not being a cold house, but rather being a warm house for all. So he was an indispensable link to the Church of Ireland community, Presbyterian community.

"He was a true Republican in the Wolfe Tone tradition."

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams described Mr Mansergh as a “key figure” in building the peace process and the success of Good Friday Agreement negotiations.

“He was one of those who met with Sinn Féin in the late 1980s on behalf of Fianna Fáil and we retained a close relationship since then,” Mr Adams said.

“I value very much the numerous engagements that we had and the relationship that we developed as a result of that.”

President Michael D Higgins said he learned of Mr Mansergh’s death with sadness.

“Dr Mansergh earned the respect not just of people with different interpretations of the historic events which led to Irish independence, but of colleague historians for the sophisticated presentation he offered on what were often complex and contentious issues,” Mr Higgins said.

“Dr Mansergh’s capacity for detail was of enormous assistance in the period leading up to the Good Friday Agreement and in the very significant contribution which he made to the broader peace process.

“His advice to politicians, and to the different Taoisigh which he served, and later as a member of the Oireachtas where he represented Tipperary, was always to begin with the facts.” The President praised Mr Mansergh for his role as the vice chair of the expert advisory group on the Decade of Centenaries, saying he made a “very valuable contribution” to public life through the commemoration of the past.

Tánaiste Simon Harris also praised the work of Mr Mansergh.

“Few people were as consequential in shaping Irish Government policy on Northern Ireland and few on the Irish side were more crucial to the peace process, whether through his role as an intermediary or his work to craft a new political and intellectual framework for peace,” Mr Mansergh.

The Tánaiste confirmed the Department of Foreign Affairs is “offering all possible consular assistance to his family at this time”.