In The News

Former Northern Ireland Office Minister passes away

Former Northern Ireland Office Minister passes away

The former Northern Ireland Office Minister David Cairns has passed away. He was 44.

Mr. Cairns was the Labour MP for Inverclyde and had been appointed to the N.I.O. during the Blair administration.

During his time in Northern Ireland Mr. Cairns pushed through legislation for water reforms.

He was then appointed as Minister of State in the Scotland Office in 2007.

Mr. Cairns resigned from the Labour Government in 2008 during the period of unhappiness among a number of MPs at Gordon Brown’s leadership of the party.

A former catholic priest, Mr. Cairns entered Parliament in 2001 after the law which prevented former priests becoming MPs was reversed.

He died in a London hospital where had been receiving treatment for acute pancreatitis.

Among the many people to pay tribute was the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He said: “David’s life was dedicated to public service. He was a committed and conscientious constituency MP, an excellent government minister and a passionate campaigner for social justice, equality and opportunity.”

 

View previous In the News items: Tributes are paid to top cyclist killed during race event, Founding member of the Walker Brothers passes away, Golf legend Seve Ballesteros passes away, Tributes are paid to the actor and director Jackie Cooper, Remains of RAF officer are returned by Norh Korea, Last veteran of the First World War passes away, Mummified body of Hollywood actress found her home, Boxing legend Henry Cooper passes away, Tributes are paid to travel writer and former comedian, Famous mountain climber dies in accident, The inventor of the teleprompter passes away, Tributes are paid to punk singer Poly Styrene, Former Unionist MP Bill Craig passes away, So called father of the compact disc passes away, Comedy writer John Sullivan passes away, Victoria Cross holder Tul Bahadur Pun passes away, Man dies in early morning road accident, Former Doctor Who actress passes away, Human remains are found at a house in Belfast, Oldest man in the world passes away, Pensioner dies days after road accident, Comedy actor Trevor Bannister passes away, Cyclist dies in early morning road accident, Director of Arsenal football club passes away, Funeral takes place 190 years after execution, Design to be chosen for Bill McLaren sculpture, Tributes are paid to veteran film director, Bodies of missing fiserhmen are recovered, John Wayne memorabilia to be sold off, Singer Johnny Preston passes away, Funeral takes place of murdered police officer, Hopes raised that air crash victims will be recovered, Construction magnate Frank Lampl passes away, Man dies in County Tyrone road accident, Tributes are paid to songwriter Eddie Snyder, Former road haulage magnate passes away, Sixties pop show presenter passes away, Tributes are paid to Welsh tenor and conductor, Super glue inventor Harry Coover passes away, Man dies in motorcycle accident, Funeral takes place of RIR soldier killed in Afghanistan or Small funeral is held for Elizabeth Taylor

 

If you have a relative or a friend who has passed away and feel they should be mentioned in our In the News section, then please email us.