Emotional tributes were paid to Liam Lawlor by relatives and friends who described him as a "big, gregarious, loving man" and a "plain speaker" at his funeral ceremony in Dublin today.
The celebrant, Fr Tony Reilly, described the former Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin West - who was killed in a car crash in Moscow on Saturday morning - as a "larger than life" man who was "an outstanding communicator".
His children - Ciara, Niall, Gerald and Shane - all spoke, describing a dedicated family man who "provided well" for them and his wife, Hazel.
Politicians past and present attended the ceremony in Lucan, including former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, former minister Ray MacSharry, Senator Feargal Quinn, Minister of State Brian Lenihan, Michael Woods TD and Joe Walsh TD.
Government chief whip Tom Kitt was also there, however, the Taoiseach was not present; Mr Ahern is in London today for a meeting with other EU leaders. He was represented by his aide-de-camp, Comdt Michael Murray.
Former lobbyist and Planning Tribunal witness Frank Dunlop was also at the funeral, as were entertainers Dickie Rock and Red Hurley, who sang during the service.
There was standing room only as the ceremony got under way with up to 200 gathered outside. Extra parking facilities were put in place opposite the church and up to 20 gardaí were on duty to deal with the extra traffic.
Fr Reilly said: "He had great courage especially in times of difficulty and yet no matter how difficult times were, Liam always found time to help others. He had a great sense of generosity".
He spoke of him being a "proud Dub" who played hurling for his county and represented Leinster in the Railway Cup in 1970. Hundreds of people gathered outside the church to hear the service on loud speakers.
His eldest son Niall paid a touching and humorous tribute to his late father.
He thanked the people of Lucan who turned up in large numbers for the comfort it gave to the family.
The controversial TD fell from grace after testimony before the planning tribunal alleging he was involved in taking bribes to arrange for planning permission in various parts of Dublin.
Mr Lawlor was on business in Moscow when he died. Some newspapers the following day carried incorrect reports about a Ukranian female interpreter travelling in the car with Mr Lawlor.
His son, Niall, today told the congregation that the days after his father's death had "been made all the more terrible" because of the reports.
"This sacred occasion in this house is neither the time or the place to dwell upon those matters or address them - that will be for another day," he said.
He later hit out, however, at his father's "detractors", particularly in the media. "You'll understand that the man depicted in the media in such a cruel and vicious way over the last few years and days is a million miles away from the man to me and the rest of the family and to many here today.
"He was big, gregarious, loving man in many, many ways. A plain speaker, sometimes when people did not want to hear plain speaking. I never knew him to hold a grudge against anyone," Niall Lawlor said.
"I would quietly remind those that turned my father into a figure of hate, in the only slightly political remark I will make today, at this time death - not a tribunal nor court - has issued findings or made a charge against him".
Quoting Shakespeare, he said his father "had done the State some service".
In a tribute which drew applause on several occasions, his children related tales from their childhood and there were many references to his love of music and his regular, though not particularly good, singing.
He thanked the people who worked closely with his father, family friends and associates including two men subject of planning tribunal inquiries, Jim Kennedy and Ambrose Kelly.
After the ceremony, Mr Lawlor's coffin was removed from the church where hundreds of people sympathised with the family for over half an hour before the funeral cortege went to nearby Esker Cemetary for the burial. He is survived by his wife, four children and three grandchildren.