Local reaction: Throughout Roscommon last night, they mourned the man many affectionately knew as "The Doc". There was little talk of old political controversies, as tributes were paid to Seán Doherty and the sympathy of the people was extended to his wife, Maura, daughters, and extended family.
Anecdotes about a hugely popular local figure were recalled in Hell's Kitchen pub in Main Street, Castlerea, by the proprietor, Seán Browne, and customers. The RTÉ television programme Nighthawks was broadcast from the pub in January 1992 and featured Mr Doherty's first public indication that he was about to claim Charles Haughey knew of the tapping of journalists' telephones nine years earlier.
Mr Doherty's remarks to presenter Shay Healy were to mark the beginning of the end of Mr Haughey's political career. The chair on which Mr Doherty sat on that fateful night is still preserved in the pub, with his signature and the words "I sat here".
Mr Browne said that visitors to the pub are invited to sit on the chair. "Seán decided that he would make the revelation about the phone tapping in his constituency, and he chose Hell's Kitchen," said Mr Browne. "He made the place famous."
During his political career, Mr Doherty was a regular visitor to the pub. "But he kept a low profile since he left politics," said Mr Browne. "I think the last time I saw him was when he came canvassing with Bertie Ahern for the Fianna Fáil candidates in the 2002 election."
Mr Browne described him as a great character. "The more I got to know him, the more I realised how intelligent he was. He had a great knowledge of history. He had nuggets of information you would not think was in his head at all. He could talk to anybody."
The national controversies meant little to the locals, said Mr Browne. "Around here he was a hero. In Roscommon, he was a saint, even if they thought he was a bit of a divil in other parts of the country, especially in Dublin."
Mr Browne said Mr Doherty will be long remembered in the town and county. "He was a great political figure, a hard constituency worker. Everybody has been talking about him around here today."
In the Royal Hotel in Boyle, where Mr Doherty frequently met his Fianna Fáil colleagues, there were fond memories of the man who grew up and lived in nearby Cootehall.
"It is not a time to be talking about his political controversies," said a local man. "Like all politicians, he had those who liked and disliked him. That is human nature. But he worked hard for Roscommon and his ability was often under-rated by sections of the Dublin media. My heart goes out to his family."
In Mullany's supermarket and off-licence, in Bridge Street, Boyle, Moya Mullany spoke affectionately of a popular figure who was a constant presence in the town during his 25-year political career. "He was popular, he had charisma, he had a word for everyone," she said.
Yesterday evening, friends and neighbours awaited his last journey home to his house in Cootehall from the mortuary in Letterkenny hospital. He will be waked in the house until the removal of his remains to the local church tomorrow at 7pm.