Former NI Secretary of State Owen Paterson’s wife found dead at family home

The wife of former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Owen Paterson has been found dead at their family home, the MP has said.
By Jonathan McCambridge
Published 24th Jun 2020, 11:39 GMT
Updated 24th Jun 2020, 14:35 GMT
Owen and Rose Patterson pictured at Hillsborough Castle in June 2012. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Owen and Rose Patterson pictured at Hillsborough Castle in June 2012. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Owen and Rose Patterson pictured at Hillsborough Castle in June 2012. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

In a statement, Mr Paterson said the loss of his wife, Rose, had come as a “terrible shock” to the family.

“It is with great sadness that I must inform you that my wife, Rose, has been found dead at our family home in Shropshire,” the Conservative MP said.

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“Rose and I were married for 40 happy years. She was a wonderful, caring wife, mother and grandmother.

Owen PatersonOwen Paterson
Owen Paterson

“Her death has come as a terrible shock to us all. I would ask the media to respect the privacy of myself and my family at this extremely difficult time.”

Mrs Paterson, the daughter of the fourth Viscount Ridley, was the chairman of Aintree Racecourse. The couple married in 1980 and had two sons and a daughter.