Cavan-Monaghan TD Heather Humphreys has used her time in the Dáil paying tribute to former Taoiseach John Bruton, to also remember Senator Billy Fox from Monaghan. Next month marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Senator Fox who hailed from Cortubber, Castleblayney. He was shot and killed by the IRA in March 1974.
Deputy Humphreys told the chamber that both Fine Gael colleagues shared the same Leinster House office at the time of Senator Fox's tragic death. In particular, Heather Humphreys remembered how passionately John Bruton spoke about Billy Fox at the 40th anniversary of the senator's death in Aghnamullen in 2014.
Yesterday on Northern Sound, former Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon from Monaghan described John Bruton as a "Redmondite" who was opposed to violence of all kinds to achieve political aims. Heather Humphreys received a round of applause from other members for her touching tribute to both men. "John Bruton and Billy Fox were elected to the Dáil on the same day in 1969 and next month we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Senator Billy Fox," Deputy Humphreys said, "John Bruton was only 26-years-old when Billy Fox was murdered and he said his death was forever imprinted on his mind and on his heart and it instilled in him a complete and utter abhorrence of paramilitary violence throughout his life."
