Friends and political colleagues have this evening paid glowing tributes to south Roscommon councillor John Naughten, noting he was a quiet and unassuming man but an effective politician.
His body was found at his house in Drum, Athlone, yesterday evening, and his death is being treated as a personal tragedy.
Gardai said: "Foul play is not suspected and a file will be prepared for the coroner."
John, a young brother of Independent TD Denis Naughten, has been a Fine Gael councillor for the past 20 years and was recently selected to run for the party in the general election in the Roscommon-Galway constituency.
A book of condolences will be available for the public to express their sympathies from 11am on Monday in Roscommon County Council's headquarters, where the tricolour and Roscommon flag will be lowered at half-mast.
John was one of two Fine Gael councillors in south Roscommon; the other is Domnick Connolly, who returned to the council in June after losing his seat in 2019. He has paid a moving tribute to his close friend:
John recently started his general election campaign after beating Ballinasloe senator Aisling Dolan in Fine Gael's selection convention only two weeks ago. Cllr Connolly says his death has affected him greatly.
Midlands Northwest MEP Ciaran Mullooly was also a longstanding friend of John's, and he, too, has been paying tribute.
John was one of two candidates chosen to represent Fine Gael in the general election in Roscommon-Galway. The other was Dympna Daly-Finn, from Arigna, who has also paid tribute.
