JOURNALIST Aodhan O’Faolain has died following a short, but hard-fought, battle with cancer. He was best known for his coverage of some of the most important cases to be heard from High Court, Appeal and Supreme Court level. His tragic passing at the age of 50 leaves an unfillable void in the life of his wife, Janet, and parents Micheal and Maura who were with him in St Vincent's University Private Hospital this afternoon. His untimely death also creates a significant loss to the strength and camaraderie of the press corps at the Four Courts of Justice on Inns Quay, Dublin. Irish Sun Editor Fiona Wynne said: “Aodhan’s name was known across Ireland for his vital coverage of our courts system. "His writing shed a light on many of the cases and legal battles that have defined Irish society today. "His loss will be felt across journalism and by all those who knew him. Our deepest sympathy to Aodhan’s family on this very sad day.” Ray Managh, a fellow court reporter, paid tribute to Aodhan. He said: “Aodhan was especially trusted and admired for his professionalism and work ethic, his ever-present chirpy smile and his most casual of dress codes, a stand-out feature amid the austere garb of the judicial and legal eagles who deeply respected and admired him. “Many judges, barristers, solicitors and court staff were among those who visited him in St Vincent’s and at his home or passed on their deep feelings of friendship and active gratitude through his friends and colleagues. “Integrity is defined as moral uprightness, honesty, wholeness and soundness, a single word that describes Aodhan O’Faolain as the outstanding person he was in his personal and professional life. “No other news reporter acknowledged better the importance and humanity of integrity in his caring court coverage of some of the saddest civil and criminal cases he had been called upon to cover.” 'HE FOUGHT FOR HIS RIGHT TO BE THERE' Ray continued: “Aodhan brought from darkness into light the numerous cases particularly affecting minors who have been and still are daily abused mentally and physically, manipulated, maltreated, drug afflicted, suffering, forgotten children whose cases too often were ignored by the media behind the gagging effects of in camera hearings. “Over years he fought for his right to be there in court for them and to report, and often by doing so expose, their plight and he did so never seeking to use any information that might in any way have identified any one of them while, at the same time, bringing to public notice some previously unknown shortcoming of a social or government agency. “He often urged those elements of the media for whom he worked as a freelance agent to use and promote those non-sexy news articles about the care and protection of non-identifiable children and “teens” as he often liked to refer to the older ones, teenagers in trouble or in need of care and protection of the courts.” 'SCRUPULOUSLY FAIR' Attorney General Rossa Fanning also paid tribute to the admired legal journalist. He remembered Aodhan for his integrity and professionalism. Mr Fanning described the reporter as: "a scrupulously fair court journalist who documented the ebb and flow of Ireland’s economy from the journalist’s bench in the High Court’s Chancery list". LOVE OF SPORT The respected journalist was born in Galway but grew up in Athlone in Co Westmeath. He had been living in south Dublin in recent years. Aodhan was an avid supporter of the Irish rugby and soccer teams as well as Connaught rugby. He was also a huge supporter of the Athlone soccer club for which he frequently acted in a public relations capacity. The journalist had spent nearly two years teaching in a secondary school in Japan. And before focusing on legal reporting Aodhan worked for the Clonmel Nationalist newspaper.