Ben O'Quigley
Irish politician (died 1969) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Ben O'Quigley | |
---|---|
Senator | |
In office 23 June 1965 – 29 May 1969 | |
Constituency | Cultural and Educational Panel |
In office 22 May 1957 – 14 December 1961 | |
Constituency | Labour Panel |
Personal details | |
Born | John Benignus O'Quigley County Mayo, Ireland |
Died | 29 May 1969 Lourdes, France |
Political party | Fine Gael |
Spouse |
Margaret Kennedy (m. 1965) |
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]