Michael Mills
Michael Mills (31 October 1927 - 13 April 2008) was an Irish journalist who served as Ireland's first Ombudsman for two terms beginning in 1984.[1] He retired from the office in 1994.[1]
Mills grew up in County Laois.[1] He initially trained to become Roman Catholic priest.[1] However, he abandoned that calling in order to take a junior reporter job with the junior reporter with the People newspaper group in Wexford, Ireland.[1] He turned journalism into a fuil time career and worked as a reporter for The Irish Press for over twenty years.[1]
Former Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald appointed Mills as Ireland's first Ombudsman in 1984.[1] During his two terms in office as Ombudsman, Mills investigated complaints from the public about local authorities, government departments and health boards.[1] He retired in 1994 at the age of 67.[1]
Michael Mills died at the age of 80 on 13 April 2008, after a short illness.[1] He was survived by his wife, Brid, and eight children.[1]
Tributes poured in from across Ireland on the news of Mills' death. Former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern called Mills a respected public servant and one of Ireland's finest journalists.[1] The current Irish Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, said that Mills laid the groundwork for the future and growth of the office.[1] Tributes were also paid by the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Children's Rights Alliance.[1]
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