Former Lord Mayor of Dublin and Veteran activist and politician Sean Dublin Bay Loftus has died aged 82. He was best known for changing his name by deed poll in his tireless and successful campaigning against repeated attempts to develop the capital's bay. The father of three was an environmentalist, barrister and a Dublin North East TD in the early 1980s.
Green Party Leader John Gormley was among the first to express his sadness at the death of the well-known environmental campaigner.
Minister Gormley said: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Sean Dublin Bay Loftus. I have known Sean for a very long time and we worked together on Dublin City Council.
"Sean was a gentleman, always kindly and encouraging and a true environmental pioneer. He led the way even before the Green Party came into existence. Sean never wavered in his pursuit of the highest environmental ideals. He was a man of deep principle and conviction and he will be sadly missed by all those who care passionately about the environment.
"When I spoke to Sean a number of weeks ago in hospital he said how pleased he was about my Department's recent work to protect Dublin Bay and how delighted he was about the recent An Bord Pleanála decision to reject plans for an infill of part of the bay.
"He was fighting the good fight right up to the time of his death. I will always remember the encouraging notes he wrote to me in recent years when I became Minister for the Environment. And on a personal level I will miss his encouragement. To his wife Una, his family and his close friends I convey my deepest sympathy on behalf of the Green Party. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis."
