Brother's tribute: The life and talent of former taoiseach Charles Haughey was "extraordinary" with "a personality that dominated and seemingly fascinated the age in which he lived, probably more than any other politician of the times", his brother, Fr Eoghan Haughey, said last night.
He was speaking at Mr Haughey's removal in the Our Lady of Consolation Church in Donnycarney, Dublin.
"We are gathered here, those of us who knew him well and loved him, loved CJH, 'Cathal', the man, for the great human being he was," he said.
"We loved him for the great humanity that was in him. We loved him for the great compassion and concern he had for others, especially the weak and vulnerable." He added: "We loved him for his courage and bravery, especially in the last days. We loved him for the loyal and true friend he was in good times and bad. We loved him - the generous, warm-hearted and kind man, Cathal Ó hEochaidh. He was small in stature but massive in achievement."
Fr Haughey said Cathal was now "deaf to all the world's praise and blame and is secure from its catastrophes". He continued that all in attendance - "believers in a compassionate God" - were there "to garner for him [ Charles Haughey] all the power of death and resurrection "that we may speed him on his way to God in whom he believed, trusted and tried to serve". He said they had gathered to say farewell to a "fellow pilgrim who has outstripped us in the race to eternity. To do him honour and remind us of what we have lost." He said we ask pardon for his "human frailties and pray for the happy repose of his soul".
Mr Haughey's Tricolour-draped coffin, borne by six military policemen, was met at the church door by Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin, Fr Haughey and Fr Peter Finnerty, parish priest. Cardinal Desmond Connell also presided.
Among other clergy present were Dr Eamonn Walsh, auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Fr Michael Drennan, secretary general of the Conference of Religious of Ireland, Fr Brian D'Arcy, superior with the Passionists congregation in Enniskillen, Monsignor Patrick Devine, parish priest at St Anthony's parish in Clontarf and Father Ireneus of the Greek Orthodox Church.