Tributes flood in for ‘gentleman Mathews’

DUNDRUM has been paying its respects to local politician and “absolute gentleman” Peter Mathews, who passed away this week.
The former Fine Gael and Independent TD died aged 65 following a battle with oesophageal cancer.
Mr Mathews was elected as a Fine Gael TD at the general election of 2011.
He left the party in 2013 after he lost the Fine Gael whip when he opposed the Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy Bill, due to his opposition to abortion.
He was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2016. Despite his illness, he stood as an Independent candidate in last year’s election but didn’t gain a seat.
Tributes to the former politician have been pouring in from his constituency colleagues. Deputy Josepha Madigan (FG) told The Gazette that she had bumped into him in Leinster House just before Christmas.
She said: “I bumped into him in Leinster House just before Christmas and he was in great spirits.
“He was clear and outspoken in his views and was very well loved by the people of his constituency in Dublin South.
“I wish to extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Susan, and family. He will be sadly missed.”
Deputy Catherine Martin (GP) said that the former TD was a “no-nonsense politician” who “demystified to the public the cause and collapse of banking in this country at the time of the onset of the recession”.
She added: “His independent thinking and intellectual vigour will be missed, but most of all his fundamental decency and warmth is a great loss to all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Senator Neale Richmond (FG) said that Mr Mathews was an “absolute gentleman”.
He said: “I got to know him well a year or two before he entered politics and I thoroughly enjoyed his company, whether it was social or political.
“Peter and I regularly had lively discussions on political matters, but never once fell out. He was held in high regard by his community and liked by all he met. He fought his illness with great bravery, and I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing.”
Peter Mathews is survived by his wife, Susan, and their four adult children.