FORMER AND CURRENT members of the Oireachtas have led tributes to former TD Seymour Crawford, who has died at the age of 74.

Crawford represented the Cavan-Monaghan constituency from 1992 until 2011, and had served for many years on Monaghan County Council prior to that.

Former colleagues have praised the ex-Fine Gael TD for being “gentlemanly in approach” and “committed and honest in his work”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expressed his condolences, and said Seymour had played a “crucial role” with his work on the British Irish inter-parliamentary body during “one of the most important periods of the peace process”.

President Michael D Higgins praised Seymour as a “staunch representative of Monaghan values, of its culture and traditions”.

Seymour’s warm friendship, and good company, was always given with a wry generosity. To his family and many, many friends, Sabina and I offer our sincere sympathies at this time.

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said Crawford had “served the people of Cavan-Monaghan with “great distinction”.

“Anybody who knew Seymour will know that he was a gentle giant. He was extremely good-natured and he would always go above and beyond in his efforts to help his constituents,” she said.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton also paid tribute to Crawford today, praising his deep interest in agriculture and how he “brought into politics the practical approach he had learned as a farmer”. 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said “Seymour was an affable and well respected member of the House across all parties and none.

He had a wry sense of humor, a great sense of decency and a very deep understanding of agricultural issues.

“He was a dedicated public servant who always promoted peace in Northern Ireland and he worked exceptionally hard for his constituents in his constituency of Cavan Monaghan both as a TD and a Councillor.”