The Taoiseach has led tributes to a well known and popular former Longford TD and Senator who passed away over the weekend. Louis J Belton served as a Fine Gael TD from 1989 to 1992 and again from 1997 until 2002, acting as a Senator in the interim. He also served for years on Longford County Council and was part of a local political dynasty, being the seventh member of his family to be voted into Dail Eireann.
The well known Kenagh man passed away on Saturday following a short illness just weeks before his 80th birthday. Louis J Belton will repose on Wednesday afternoon in Our Lady's Manor Nursing home from 3 o'clock until 7 o'clock, with Funeral Mass on Thursday at 11 o'clock in St Dominic's Church Kenagh. Speaking at an engagement in Longford yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described the former TD as a wonderful mentor to many local politicians:
