PRESIDENT MARY McAleese was among the hundreds of mourners at the removal of the remains of former minister for finance Brian Lenihan to St Mochta’s Church, Porterstown, in west Dublin, yesterday.
The church was filled to overflowing and the queue of mourners stretched to the nearby roadway.
Fianna Fáil colleagues formed a guard of honour, and the coffin was taken from the hearse to the church by a bearer party of soldiers from the Second Eastern Brigade military police company under Sgt Donal Howe.
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin and parish priest Fr John Daly received the remains outside the church at 6pm.
Earlier, Mr Lenihan’s body lay in repose at Jennings funeral home in Blanchardstown.
Family friend Fr Eugene Kennedy told the congregation that they had come together “to pay our respects to a great young man and to commend his soul to the Lord”.
He added that Mr Lenihan’s talents had been referred to in so many ways over so many days, especially by the 9,000 people who had signed the book of condolence in Castleknock. Fr Kennedy said Mr Lenihan had been very much part of the local community.
The chief mourners were his wife Patricia, son Tom, daughter Clare, his mother Ann, brothers Conor, Niall and Paul, sister Anita, and aunt Mary O’Rourke.
Four former taoisigh – Liam Cosgrave, Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen – were among those present.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was represented by his aide-de-camp Comdt Michael Treacy.
Also present were Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, Minister of State for Finance Brian Hayes, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, Leas Cheann Comhairle Michael Kitt, Government Chief Whip Paul Keogh, EU commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, former EU commissioner Charlie McCreevy, former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes, former PD leader Des O’Malley, former minister for justice Michael McDowell, former cathaoirleach of the Seanad Pat Moylan and general secretary of Ictu David Begg.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin led a large turnout from the party. They included TDs Dara Calleary, Seán Fleming, Billy Kelleher, Séamus Kirk, Michael McGrath, Michael Moynihan, as well as Senators Ned O’Sullivan, Jim Walsh, Darragh O’Brien and Denis O’Donovan.
Former Fianna Fáil ministers and TDs included Seán Ardagh, Michael Ahern, Michael Kennedy, Ned O’Keeffe, Beverley Flynn, Joe Walsh, John Cregan, John Curran, Noel Ahern, Charlie O’Connor and Mary Hanafin.
Party general secretary Seán Dorgan and former general secretary Pat Farrell were also there.
Independent TD Finian McGrath, Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan, Senator Ronan Mullen and Sinn Féin MLA Pat Doherty also attended.
Chief Justice Mr Justice John Murray and Supreme Court judges Mrs Justice Fidelma Macken and president of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns were present. High Court judges present were Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Frank Clarke.
The Circuit Court was represented by court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery and Judge Alison Lindsay, Judge Cornelius Murphy, Judge Anthony Hunt, Judge Martin Nolan, Judge Leonie Reynolds, Judge Thomas O’Donnell and recently retired Judge Frank O’Donnell.
District Court judges there were Judge Desmond Zaidan, Judge Anthony Halpin, Judge David McHugh, Judge Victor Blake, Judge Patricia McNamara, Judge Paul Kelly and recently retired Judge Michael Patwell.
Former attorney general Paul Gallagher was also present.
Mr Lenihan will be buried today in a private ceremony at St David’s Church graveyard, Kilsallaghan, after 11am Mass.