Former supermarket tycoon Ben Dunne's son, Robert Dunne, passes away in New York City.
Robert Dunne, Prominent Lawyer and Irish-American Community Leader, Passes Away
Robert Dunne, a renowned lawyer and the late President Emeritus of the Brehon Law Society of New York, passed away peacefully in New York on August 1, 2025. He was 50 years old.
Born in Castleknock, Co Dublin, Dunne grew up in a family with strong roots in the Irish retail sector. His father, Ben Dunne, was the former head of Dunnes Stores, a major retail empire in Ireland. After attending Trinity College Dublin and the London School of Economics, Robert Dunne embarked on a career in law.
His legal career took him to the US, where he worked as a lawyer and rose to become President Emeritus of the Brehon Law Society of New York. The Society, dedicated to promoting justice and fostering connections between the Irish and American legal communities, held him in high regard for his leadership and commitment to justice and Irish-American legal relations.
Dunne's life was not without controversy. In 1992, he was arrested in Florida after a panic attack following the use of cocaine. The events in Florida later led to an audit of Dunnes Stores accounts, which resulted in revelations about payments to Michael Lowry and the late Charles Haughey. The McCracken and Moriarty tribunals were associated with the inquiries arising from these events.
Robert Dunne's father, Ben, was kidnapped by the Provisional IRA in 1981. The traumatic experience is believed to have led to PTSD for Mr. Dunne senior. Robert Dunne spoke openly about his life filled with extraordinary controversy in an interview with The Sunday Independent last year.
Despite the challenges, Robert Dunne remained close to his family. He is survived by his mother, Mary, siblings Mark, Caroline, and Nicholas, and a wider family. His mother, Mary, stood by him during the ensuing controversy and his father's continuing struggles with cocaine.
Robert Dunne eventually set up his own law firm in New York. Antoin, formerly of Manhattan, attended many legal events invited by Robert Dunne in New York City.
A Requiem Mass will be held for Robert Dunne at St Mochta's Church, Porterstown, Clonsilla, on Monday, following which he will be buried in Castleknock Churchyard, Dublin. A month's mind Mass is to be held in New York on September 4th, in honor of Mr. Dunne.
Condolences posted on RIP.ie remember Mr. Dunne's time in Castleknock, at Trinity, in the Ilac Centre, and in the US. The Brehon Law Society of New York expressed deep respect and remembrance for him.
Robert Dunne's life was marked by resilience and dedication, qualities that will be remembered by those who knew him.
[1] The Brehon Law Society of New York, www.brehonlaw.org
[2] RIP.ie, www.rip.ie
[1] The Brehon Law Society of New York, an organization dedicated to promoting justice and fostering connections between the Irish and American legal communities, was led by Robert Dunne, who was engaged in the finance sector as a prominent lawyer.
[2] In his later years, Robert Dunne entered the industry sector by establishing his own law firm in New York, and his firm was known for hosting various retail events in the city.
