Michael Mills (journalist)

{{Short description|Irish journalist and first Ombudsman (1927–2008)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Use Irish English|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Michael Mills

| image = Michael Mills.jpg

| alt = Picture of Michael Mills

| caption =

| office = Ombudsman

| term_start = 2 January 1984

| term_end = 31 October 1994

| predecessor = New office

| successor = Kevin Murphy

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1927|10|31}}

| birth_place = Mountmellick, Ireland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|04|13|1927|10|31}}[http://notices.irishtimes.com/acknowledgement/mills-michael/2412982 MILLS, Michael : Acknowledgement notice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616054809/http://notices.irishtimes.com/acknowledgement/mills-michael/2412982 |date=16 June 2017 }} The Irish Times, 2008-06-19.

| death_place = Dublin, Ireland

| nationality = Irish

}}

Michael Mills (31 October 1927 – 13 April 2008) was an Irish journalist who served as Ireland's first Ombudsman for two terms beginning in 1984.{{cite news|title=Former Ombudsman Michael Mills dies|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0414/millsm.html|work=RTÉ News|date=2008-04-14|access-date=2008-05-10|archive-date=11 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011195518/http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0414/millsm.html|url-status=live}} He retired from the office in 1994.

Mills grew up in Mountmellick, County Laois."Michael Mills" (obituary), The Times, 2008-05-01. He initially trained to become a Passionist priest. However, he abandoned that calling after catching tuberculosis[http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/a-life-near-the-centre-of-power-25951127.html A life near the centre of power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213024456/http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/a-life-near-the-centre-of-power-25951127.html |date=13 December 2013 }} Irish Independent, 2005-12-10. to take a junior reporter job with the People newspaper group in Wexford. He turned journalism into a full-time career and worked from 1964 as a reporter for The Irish Press for over twenty years.{{fact|date=December 2020}}

When he corrected a mistake in a Dáil speech by Éamon de Valera he was not allowed to report again from the Dáil for seven years. Instead, he practiced drama criticism. Then he was appointed by de Valera's son, Vivion, as political correspondent of the newspaper, and went on to become its political editor.{{cite news|title=Obituary: Michael Mill: State's first ombudsman who shone as political journalist |newspaper=The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/state-s-first-ombudsman-who-shone-as-political-journalist-1.915115|date=19 April 2008 }}

In 1983, Mills was nominated by the government as Ireland's first Ombudsman, taking office in January 1984.{{cite web |title=Appointment of Ombudsman: Motion – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Vol. 345 No. 3 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1983-10-25/20/ |website=Oireachtas |date=25 October 1983}}{{cite web |title=Reappointment of Ombudsman: Motion – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Vol. 394 No. 7 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1989-12-15/6/ |website=Oireachtas |date=15 December 1989}} During his two terms in office, Mills investigated complaints from the public about local authorities, government departments and health boards. He retired in 1994 at the age of 67.

He published his memoirs Hurler on the Ditch in 2005, which was also the name of a Teilifís Éireann programme on which he was one of the first panelists in the mid-1960s.[http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mills-digs-gems-from-the-ditch-26215717.html Mills digs gems from the Ditch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213030006/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mills-digs-gems-from-the-ditch-26215717.html |date=13 December 2013 }} Irish Independent, 2005-12-11.[http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/pol-corr-gets-his-due-26216070.html Pol corr gets his due] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185844/http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/pol-corr-gets-his-due-26216070.html |date=4 March 2016 }} Irish Independent, 2005-12-18.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/presspack/2006/08/12/rte-radio-1-press-pack-week-33-12-18-august/ |title=RTÉ Radio 1 Press Pack Week 33 (12 – 18 August) |date=12 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212171833/http://www.rte.ie/presspack/2006/08/12/rte-radio-1-press-pack-week-33-12-18-august/ |archive-date=12 December 2013 |publisher=RTÉ Press Centre }}

Mills, who lived in Templeogue, died at the age of 80 on 13 April 2008, after a short illness. He was survived by his wife, Bríd, and eight children.

Tributes poured in from across Ireland on the news of his death. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern called him a respected public servant and one of Ireland's finest journalists. Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said that Mills laid the groundwork for the future and growth of the office she then occupied. Tributes were also paid by the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Children's Rights Alliance.