Jim Gibbons (1924 - 1997)

Jim Gibbons was an Irish politician born in 1924. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for the first time following the 1957 General Election. In 1969 he was apponted Minister for Defence, however he was removed from the popsition one year later in 1970 following the outbreak of the 'Arms Crisis.' In the subsequent trial the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture, Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney, were found not guilty of an illegal attempt to import arms into the country. During the trial Gibbons' evidence completely contradicted Haughey's. Gibbons was alleged to have been the dishonest one, an allegation that affected him deeply. Years later when Haughey returned to the Fianna Fáil front bench Gibbons hoped for a 'rapprochment' with Haughey. This never happened. Following the Crisis Gibboms served as Minister for agriculture. In 1979 Haughey replaced Jack Lynch as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach. Gibboms lost his place at Cabinet. In 1982 Gibbons suffered a heart attack and was unable to travel to Dáil Éireann to vote for Haughey in a no confidence motion. Haughey lost by just two votes and the government was dissolved. Gibbons lost his Dáil seat in the second General Election of 1982 and retired from politics. Gibbons suffered a series of heart attacks and strokes over the last fifteen years of his life and his health steadily deteriorated.

Jim Gibbons died on 20 December 1997 aged 73.