Micheal Martin mourns death of his father (89)
Paddy Martin: was a successful amateur boxer, known as 'the champ'
FIANNA Fail leader Micheal Martin was last night mourning the death of his father, Paddy Martin, a celebrated boxer known as 'the champ'.
Mr Martin passed away in Cork city yesterday, following a short illness, at the age of 89.
Fianna Fail deputy leader Eamon O Cuiv last night said he was "deeply saddened" by news of the death.
"I want to extend my deepest condolences, along with those of my Parliamentary Party colleagues and the entire Fianna Fail organisation, to Micheal, his brothers and sisters, and the Martin family at this time," he said.
His father's death is the third personal tragedy for Mr Martin in recent years. His youngest daughter, Leana, died at the age of seven, almost 18 months ago. She suffered from a heart condition and died at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London after being seriously ill.
His mother, Eileen, had passed away six months earlier.
Paddy Martin was a well-known Irish international amateur boxer. He came from the north side of Cork city. An employee of CIE, he was a bus driver on the No 4 route and was involved in organising the Widows' and Orphans' donations and managing the ex-boxers' fund for destitute former athletes.
He was a champion boxer with the Glen Boxing Club and apparently never went down in a fight.
Funeral arrangements are still being made, but the removal is expected to take place tomorrow night in Turners Cross, with the funeral on Wednesday.
Mr Martin is survived by his five children and 14 grandchildren.
Two of Mr Martin's children -- Micheal and Sean -- served terms as Lord Mayor of Cork.
Sean remains a member of Cork City Council while Micheal, who was first elected as a Fianna Fail TD in 1989, is a TD for Cork South Central, who served as a cabinet minister in four different departments and became party leader last year.
- Fionnan Sheahan
Irish Independent
