Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus

Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus (1 November 1927 – 10 July 2010) was an Irish environmentalist, barrister and politician who drew attention to his campaign issues by changing his name. He was often known as "Dublin Bay Loftus".^[1]

Born Seán D. Loftus in Dublin in 1927, he was educated in Coláiste Mhuire, Catholic University School, McCaffrey's College, Stephen's Green, University College Dublin and King's Inns, qualifying as a barrister. A resident of Clontarf, on Dublin Bay, he specialised in town planning law and campaigned for the sustainable development of Dublin Bay and against environmentally harmful projects in the bay. He founded the Christian Democrat Movement of Ireland in 1961 and stood for election to Dáil Éireann at the 1961 general election in the Dublin North–East constituency, the first of sixteen attempts.^[2][3] He was a member of Dublin City Council for 25 years, an alderman for much of that time, and a member of the Council's Planning and Development Committee. He was a member and honorary legal advisor of the Dublin Bay Preservation Association (later Dublin Bay Watch). He lectured in Law in Bolton Street College of Technology (later the Dublin Institute of Technology).

In 1972 the Dublin Port and Docks Board proposed the building of an oil refinery in Dublin Bay. The plan was vigorously opposed by environmentalists, including Loftus, on the grounds that it posed a serious risk of pollution. At the 1973 general election, Loftus stood for election to the Dáil in the Dublin North–Central constituency as a Christian Democrat on the issue of Dublin Bay. Because the party was too small to be registered under the 1963 Electoral Act, meaning Loftus would be listed as 'Independent', he changed his name by deed poll to "Seán D. Christian Democrat Dublin Bay Loftus" in order that his political affiliation and campaign issue would appear on the ballot paper.^[2][4] Although he was not elected, he succeeded in highlighting the issue and the proposal was eventually turned down by the Minister for Local Government, James Tully. He was elected to Dublin Corporation in 1974.^[5]

In the following years Loftus changed his name by deed poll several times more, to "Seán Dublin Bay Loftus", "Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus" (as part of a campaign to press the Irish Government to make a territorial claim to the Rockall islet 424 kilometres off the coast of County Donegal)^[6] and "Seán Alderman Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus",^[7] among others. It was under this last name that he was finally elected to the 22nd Dáil for the Dublin North–East constituency at the 1981 general election.^[8] This Dáil was short-lived, however, and he himself contributed to the end of his Dáil career when he voted against John Bruton's 1982 budget.^[5] At the February 1982 general election he stood in two constituencies, Dublin North–East and Dublin North–Central, but failed to win a seat in either. He continued to contest Dáil and European Parliament elections until 1997.^[3] He remained on Dublin City Council, and served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1995 to 1996.

Loftus remained active as a member and honorary legal advisor of Dublin Bay Watch, and led opposition to the 2002 application by the Dublin Port Company to fill in 52 acres (210,000 m²) of Dublin Bay. The application was rejected in June 2010 by the planning board, An Bord Pleanála, while Loftus was in hospital, having undergone brain surgery. Local councillor Gerry Breen said its rejection was a "fitting tribute" to Loftus.^[9] Loftus died on 10 July 2010.^[5]

See also

• Pro-Life – An American politician who changed his name to reflect his political views

References

Notes

• Nealon's Guide to the 22nd Dáil and Seanad, Ted Nealon and Séamus Brennan, 1981.

External links

• Seán D. Christian Democrat Dublin Bay Loftus, RTÉ Archives, 23 February 1973.