A former Fianna Fáil TD and county councillor, Judge Hughes was due to retire from the bench on his 70th birthday next month.

Born in 1952, he was the third eldest in a family of 13. He was initially co-opted onto Westport Urban District Council in 1984 before his election to Mayo County Council in 1985. He was subsequently elected to the Dáil in 1992, representing Mayo West for five years.

A qualified solicitor, Judge Hughes was appointed State Solicitor for Mayo in 2000 and then served as a District Court judge from 2009, initially in Donegal.

He was a keen athlete, known to run many marathons. He ran the Dublin City Marathon in 1984 with his seven brothers, which resulted in their entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Paying tribute to the late judge, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I am deeply saddened at the passing of Seamus Hughes, someone who served the people of Westport with distinction as a TD and councillor.

“I knew Seamus very well, as a colleague in the Dáil, and later in his time as a District Court judge. He was a very calm, measured and decent individual. A thorough gentleman.

“My deepest sympathies for to his wife Maria and children, Colin, Emmet, Sarah and Donal. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”