Ben O'Quigley

John Benignus "Ben" O'Quigley[1][2] (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.[1]

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 M. 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.[1]

In 1962–65 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] which took place in Lourdes.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "John Benignus O'Quigley". Members Database 1919–2005. Oireachtas. http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?MemberID=1608. Retrieved 17 September 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c "Senator Ben O'Quigley dies in Lourdes". The Irish Times: p. 10. 30 May 1969. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1969/0530/Pg010.html#Ar01004. Retrieved 17 September 2010. 
  3. ^ Derelict Sites Bill, 1960—Committee Stage.. Seanad Éireann debates. 53. 4 January 1961. c677. http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0053/S.0053.196101040003.html. "my home town of Castlebar" 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Death of Senator: Expression of Sympathy. Seanad Éireann debates. 66. 9 July 1969. c1193. http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0066/S.0066.196907090002.html. 
  5. ^ "Weddings". The Irish Times: pp. 7, 10. 23 September 1955. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1955/0923/Pg007.html#Ar00707. 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. http://www.supremecourt.ie/supremecourt/sclibrary3.nsf/(WebFiles)/AD23E8418C11E5118025765E0037605A/$FILE/Ryan%20v%20AG_1964.rtf. Retrieved 17 September 2010.