Tom Frawley: 1949-2026
Tom Frawley, Chair of the Western Health and Social Care Trust and former Ombudsman, passed away on 24 June 2026 at the age of 77.
A dedicated public servant over many decades, Thomas Jude Frawley was born in Limerick on 4 February 1949. At a young age, his family moved to Belfast where he studied at St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School.
Frawley later attended Trinity College Dublin before embarking on an early career in the NHS. He was then appointed chief administrative officer of the Western Health and Social Services Board based in Derry at 31 years old. He held this post until September 2000, when he was appointed Northern Ireland Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints, a role he held until 2016 and served with great distinction.
Tasked with investigating complaints against public bodies, much of the work focused on ordinary people’s experiences of the health service and he won widespread praise for his diligent pursuit of cases.
He was elected vice president of the World Board of the International Ombudsman Institute and served as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, including as vice-chairman in 2021/22.
Other public service roles included chairing the panel of experts who advised on the Review of Public Administration (RPA) in 2002, heading a review of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, and reviews of the Northern Ireland Training Council and Central Services Agency.
During his tenure as chair of the RPA, he spoke at several agendaNi conferences on the future of public administration. His contributions were always insightful, well received by delegates, and always ended with a quote from Edmund Burke.
Between 2012 and 2020, he chaired the audit and risk committee of the Scottish Ombudsman’s Office and was a member of the Welsh and Irish Ombudsman’s Audit Committees.
Frawley was also vice chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate and then a Visiting Professorship by Ulster University. In 2008, he was awarded a CBE for his contribution to public service in Northern Ireland and in 2014, he was made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Nursing.
Paying tribute, Karen Hargan, Chief Executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, says: “He was widely admired for his integrity, insight, and sound judgement, as well as for his wit, kindness, and ability to connect with people at all levels. He cared deeply about our staff, our patients and clients, and the wider community, and was a passionate advocate for health and social care services across the west. His contribution to this trust and to public service more broadly will be remembered with immense gratitude.”
Frawley is survived by his wife Marie, children Rachel, Joseph, and Daniel, and grandchildren Jack, Alice, and Lucy.
