Death of former journalist and Toyota executive, Denis Smyth

The death has occurred of Denis Smyth of Skryne, the former Meath Chronicle journalist who went on to head up Toyota Ireland, and the Killeen Motor Group.

A member of a prominent Skryne family, Denis was a sports reporter and youth columnist with the Meath Chronicle in the 1960s and '70s, before moving into public relations at Toyota Ireland.

He rose through the ranks of Toyota to become managing director of the Killeen Motor Group which incorporates Toyota and Lexus.

When he retired from that role in 2002, he continued in a non-executive role as vice-chairman of the Killeen group and as a director of Toyota Ireland and Lexus Ireland.

He was a prominent member of Royal Tara Golf Club, and had played Gaelic football with Skryne in his younger days. There had been a tradition of journalism in his mother's Malin family, and his nephew, footballer Liam Hayes, followed him into the profession.

Husband of Brenda (neé Russell of Navan), and father of Russell and John, he died peacefully at his home on Tuesday. Predeceased by his parents Brian and Emily, sisters baby Eileen Teresa and Carmel, and brother Sean, he is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Clare; sisters, Mary, Margaret and Emily; brothers, Patrick and Brian; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, relatives and his many good neighbours and friends.

He will be reposing at Ryan's Funeral Home, Ashbourne, from 5pm to 7pm tomorrow (Thursday) evening, with removal to St Colmcille's Church, Skryne, for 7.30pm.

A funeral Mass will take place in Skryne at 11am on Friday morning.