‘He lived life to fullest' – Tributes pour for award-winning photojournalist who died in tragic Dublin motorbike crash

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

TRIBUTES have poured in for a popular Press photographer after he was killed in a crash.
Michael O'Neill — known as Mick — died after his motorbike collided with a tractor in north Dublin on Saturday morning.
The 62-year-old had worked with The Irish Daily Star for the past 25 years, and of late with The Irish Mirror too.
Star journo Michael O'Toole said: 'Mick was the snapper's snapper. There was nobody who came close to him.
"He travelled all over Ireland and the world doing a job he loved and excelled at, one which came naturally to him.
"I have never seen any media professional as gifted as Mick at talking to people, at making them feel at ease in the most stressful of situations, at connecting with them, essentially.
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"He made the job of the reporter working with him easy. He had it all. And he was great, superb, company. God, he was amazing."
Our Showbiz Editor Ken Sweeney worked with Mick for years in The Star.
He said: 'Mick was prepared to stay at a job for as long as it took to get the picture we needed. Hours and days if needed, Mick never gave up.'
Irish Star and Mirror Editor Neil Leslie said colleagues were 'devastated'.
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He added: "Mick was a truly outstanding journalist and photographer.
"Moreover, he was a great friend and a wise mentor to the other journalists who worked alongside him over many years."
'Mick's unique contribution to our own papers and titles and wider Irish journalism was immense.'
Irish Star and Mirror journo Paul Healy said he has 'lost not just a colleague and a mentor, but a friend'.
He said: 'I can't begin to describe to you the amount of scrapes we were in together over the years, and the hours we spent sitting in cars staking out criminals (and yes, at times, driving each other mad!). But that's the job.
'WE'LL BE LOST WITHOUT HIM'
'We worked closely with one another almost every day for the past 10 years, and in that time confided in one another and often sought each other's advice. But it was usually Mick's advice that I needed.
'He also had an incredible way with people and even though it would be me doing the interview, he was often the one that had gotten the best lines out of someone.
"He had a keen news sense, incredible contacts and after over 30 years in the business still had an incredible appetite to work that would put even the most eager of employees to shame."
Healy described Mick's love for his family, especially his two young grandchildren, and the adoration he had for his bike.
He said: "If he wasn't working, he was usually out on it, down the country enjoying himself. He never sat still.
"He lived his life to the fullest. We will be lost without him. RIP.'
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the moments leading up to the crash has been asked to assist gardai in their investigation.
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.
"Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 10:30am and 11:15am this morning are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact Santry Garda Station on 01 666 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."
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Award-winner Mick with one of his pictures
Credit: PR Handout