ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Commandant Timothy (Tim) McFadden of Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin and formerly of Currahubbach, County Sligo. Peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on 22nd February 2026. Dearly beloved husband and best friend of Eleanor. Adored dad of Bevin, Sally-Anne and Fergus, and loving grandad of his precious Enda, Gráinne, Etaoin, Freddy, Mabel, Alfie and Georgia. Sadly and lovingly missed by his family, his daughter-in-law Rebecca, sons-in-law Richard and Frank, his extended family, Defence Forces comrades and many friends.
Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam
Tim McFadden, a native of Currahubbach, County Sligo, was born on 31st May 1953. He enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann on 17th October 1972 as a member of 48 Cadet Class. Commissioned on 30th September 1974 Tim served in the Curragh Command in the General Training Depot, 3 Infantry Battalion, Depot Military Police Corps and was Governor of the Military Detention Barracks from 1975 to 1981.
Overseas Tim served with 2 Headquarters Company, UNIFIL Military Police Company in Lebanon from April to October 1979, was 2 I/C Headquarters Company, 60 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL from November 1986 to April 1987 and served with 70 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL from November 1991 to April 1992. He was an observer in Namibia with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) from April 1989 to March 1990 and on the Golan Heights with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1995 – 1996.
After retiring from the Defence Forces on 1st July 1995, Tim set up the United Nations Detention Facility for Hutu prisoners in Arusha, Tanzania, established under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. In 1997 he was appointed as Governor of the United Nations Detention Unit in Scheveningen, near The Hague, where detainees arraigned on charges of alleged war crimes committed during the war in the former Yugoslavia were detained. He retired from this position in 2009.
A keen rugby player and supporter, he was coach to the UCG ladies’ team in 1974 and was Curragh Rugby Football Club coach in 1987. Tim’s son Fergus made 184 appearances for Leinster and won 34 Irish Rugby Caps, including one for the famous drop-goal win against France in Paris in 2018.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Wednesday 25th February at Saint Brigid’s Church, Curragh Camp, County Kildare (R56 H317), followed by private family cremation on Thursday 26th February.
Donations in lieu of flowers to Irish Heart Foundation in Memory of Comdt Timothy (Tim) McFadden (Rtd) at: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/CT03201085/donate.html
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Tim’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/comdt-timothy-tim-mcfadden-rtd-dublin-dun-laoghaire-622660
