The Roscommon councillor was due to stand for Fine Gael in the Roscommon-Galway constituency in the upcoming General Election. He is the brother of former government minister and outgoing Roscommon-Galway TD Denis Naughten.
He was selected to run at the selection convention in the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon two weeks ago, chaired by Maria Walsh MEP.
Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Paschal Fitzmaurice said the county is in shock following the death of councillor Naughten, adding that he was a true gentleman who made a great contribution to Roscommon.
“We are truly shocked by the news that we received yesterday evening,” he told the Irish Independent.
“John was a gentleman and great contributor to the Council.
“Fianna Fáil were in an alliance with Fine Gael in the Council and he really was the leader of Fine Gael within the Council.
“We have worked hard together and he was easy to work with.
“He was a great councillor and he made a huge contribution to Roscommon over a long period of time.
“He was a very approachable person and he was the kind of person you could talk too and if there was an issue, he was very supportive of the issues that had to be sorted for the betterment of Roscommon.
“He was a lovely man, a true gentleman and a great county councillor.
“We are all totally shocked and we extend our sympathies to Breda, his children and the entire Naughten family,” said Cllr Fitzmaurice.
A farmer and public representative, aged in his 50s, he was first elected as a local county councillor 21 years ago and was Chairperson of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.
He was most recently re-elected to the council in June of this year where he saw his first preference vote increase by a further 20pc.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí were alerted a following the discovery of the body of a man in his 50s at a house in Athlone, Co. Roscommon, on Friday, October 4, 2024.
“Foul play is not suspected and the death is being treated as a personal tragedy.
“A file will be prepared for the Coroner.”
