Death of dr austin darragh

The death has occurred of Professor Dr Austin Darragh, who established the clinical research company, ICP, and was one of the founders of the Irish Cancer Society.

Dr Darragh helped set up Leo Laboratories in Ireland in the 1950s, and in latter years, was adjunct professor in the University of Limerick, working on the energy potential of biomass.

In 2012, he published 'The Facts of Light', a collection of scientific and philosophical essays on the natural phenomenon of sunlight and man's attempt at replicating it via artificial electrical light.

For years, he was 'The Doctor' on the Gay Byrne radio show. He is also a practising physician. Living at the Hill of Tara, he was father of the late showjumper, Paul Darragh, and was a former master of the Ballymacad Hunt. Very involved in showjumping, Dr Darragh was chairman of the family company, Darragh Equestrian.

The family was the centre of trauma in 1987 when Dr Darragh's son-in-law, dentist John O'Grady, was kidnapped by the 'Border Fox', Dessie O'Hare. Dr Darragh was the intended target of the kidnappers.

Dr Darragh will be buried in the family plot in  Rathfeigh Cemetery on Wednesday.