Large attendance expected at Lawlor's funeral

A large attendance is expected at the funeral of former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor, which takes place in Lucan, Co Dublin today.

The body of Mr Lawlor, who was killed in a car crash in Moscow last Saturday, was flown home to Ireland yesterday.

A spokesperson for the Dublin Airport Authority confirmed that his body arrived at Dublin airport in the early hours of yesterday morning and was taken to the Lawlor family home.

Political sources say a number of Dublin TDs are expected to attend the obsequies, while a large local turnout is also likely. Mr Lawlor (61) represented the area in the Dáil and the county council for 25 years.

However, the Taoiseach will not be present; Mr Ahern is in London today for a meeting with other EU leaders. He will be represented by his aide-de-camp, Comdt Michael Murray.

The President Mrs McAleese will not be represented, as Mr Lawlor is no longer a sitting TD. Mr Lawlor's funeral Mass will take place at midday today at St Patrick's Church in Esker, near Lucan, Co Dublin. The burial will follow at Esker Cemetery.

Meanwhile, Julia Kushnir, the Ukrainian woman who survived the car crash in which the politician died, has said through her lawyers she will issue a statement next week.

A spokesman for her legal representatives, Brian Lynch and Co in Galway, said Ms Kushnir was still "traumatised" by her experiences in the crash and the resulting inaccurate coverage by some newspapers. As a result, she had decided to postpone issuing a statement, planned for yesterday, until next week.

The Sunday Independent and other newspapers suggested Mr Lawlor was in the company of a prostitute when he died. In fact, Ms Kushnir, who travelled from Prague with the politician, was working as his legal secretary and interpreter.

Earlier this week, a Dublin firm of solicitors was engaged on her behalf to seek an apology from seven newspapers. However, these instructions were withdrawn and Lynch and Co was engaged.

A spokesman for the firm said yesterday they would not be communicating with the newspapers until Ms Kushnir issued her statement next week.

The editor of the Sunday Independent, Aengus Fanning, has since apologised unreservedly to Mr Lawlor's family for its story. He did not apologise to Ms Kushnir.