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Former Baltimore Technologies and FAI boss Fran Rooney has died

Fran Rooney served as the first FAI CEO
Fran Rooney served as the first FAI CEO

The death has taken place of the businessman and ex-FAI chief executive, Fran Rooney.

He was 67 years old.

A former League of Ireland footballer, Mr Rooney played with a number of teams including Home Farm, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians.

He also managed the Republic of Ireland women's team from 1986 to 1991.

In his early career he trained as a chartered accountant and spent time working with a number of organisations including An Post, several government departments and National Irish Bank, before setting up VAT processing company Meridian International

In the mid-90s, Mr Rooney helped develop real time trading platform Quay Financial Software into an international business.

He then worked for a time for Dermot Desmond's International Investment and Underwriting.

In 1996 he bought tech firm Baltimore Technologies along with other investors.

He led its growth into a valuable and successful international company that eventually floated on the Nasdaq in the late 90s.

But its valuation later plummeted in the global dotcom bust and he stepped down in 2001.

Mr Rooney then went on to become the first CEO of the FAI in 2003 where he remained for just over a year.

Over the following years he served as executive chairman of video streaming app Vimio and of wireless broadband business Ice Broadband.

He subsequently became a barrister in 2008.

A notice posted on rip.ie said Mr Rooney had passed away peacefully on Monday surrounded by his family.

Mr Rooney is survived by his children Yvonne, Dave, Laura and their spouses Brian, Emma, Gary, his grandchildren Seán and Daire, former wife Mary and partner Jackie.