Ben O'Quigley

Irish politician (died 1969)

Ben O'Quigley
Senator
In office
23 June 1965 – 29 May 1969
ConstituencyCultural and Educational Panel
In office
22 May 1957 – 14 December 1961
ConstituencyLabour Panel
Personal details
Born
John Benignus O'Quigley

County Mayo, Ireland
Died29 May 1969
Lourdes, France
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Margaret Kennedy
​
(m. 1965)​

John Benignus O'Quigley (died 29 May 1969)[1][2] was an Irish barrister and Fine Gael politician from Castlebar, County Mayo.[3] He was twice a member of Seanad Éireann.[2]

O'Quigley entered the Civil Service in 1945.[4] In 1950 he was called to the bar and resigned from the Civil Service.[4] He practised law in Dublin and on the Western Circuit.[4] In September 1955 he married Margaret Kennedy from Straffan.[5] After the 1957 general election, O'Quigley was elected to the 9th Seanad on the Labour Panel.[4] After the 1961 general election, he failed to be re-elected.[2]

From 1962 to 1965, O'Quigley was junior counsel, initially instructed by Richie Ryan,[6] and later under Seán MacBride, on the legal team of plaintiff Gladys Ryan in Ryan v Attorney General, a water fluoridation controversy case wherein the Supreme Court found the Constitution of Ireland safeguarded the unenumerated right to bodily integrity.[7] After the 1965 general election O'Quigley was elected to the 11th Seanad, this time from the Cultural and Educational Panel.[4] He became leader of the Fine Gael group in the Seanad.[4] He was ill for some time before his death,[4] and died in Lourdes.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Senator Ben O'Quigley dies in Lourdes". The Irish Times. 30 May 1969. p. 10. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "John Benignus O'Quigley". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  3. ^ Derelict Sites Bill, 1960—Committee Stage. Seanad Éireann debates. Vol. 53. 4 January 1961. p. c677. Retrieved 17 September 2010. my home town of Castlebar
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Death of Senator: Expression of Sympathy. Seanad Éireann debates. Vol. 66. 9 July 1969. p. c1193. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Weddings". The Irish Times. 23 September 1955. pp. 7, 10. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  6. ^ The Irish Times, 25 May 1963, p.10
  7. ^ "Ryan -v- Attorney General". 1 IR. Supreme Court of Ireland. 1965. p. 296. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
Trade union offices
New office General Secretary of the Civil Service Executive and Higher Officers' Association
1949–1961 		Succeeded by
Dympna Headen
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Nominated by the Taoiseach
Elected or nominated later