Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey precipitated a protocol crisis when he slipped into his seat at the State funeral of Jack Lynch in Cork last Saturday. The last person Haughey expected to find seated beside him in St Mary's and St Anne's Cathedral was his old political adversary, Des O'Malley, who established the Progressive Democrats after being expelled from Fianna Fail in 1985 for "conduct unbecoming".

There were sharp intakes of breath from members of the congregation and especially from the Government team which had worked around the clock organising the State funeral when they saw the two grim-faced men sitting together. Having Mr Haughey and Mr O'Malley side-by-side, let alone in the same pew, was definitely not in the protocol plan for this solemn occasion.

Hours after Jack Lynch died in a Dublin hospital last Wednesday week, Peter Ryan, assistant secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, visited Mairin Lynch at her home in Garville Avenue in Rathgar. It was Mr Ryan's job to co-ordinate the organisation of the funeral. He wanted to find out on behalf of the Government what her requirements were.

Mrs Lynch told Mr Ryan she did not want a gun-carriage or a volley of shots over the graveside. She wanted Des O'Malley to deliver the graveside oration and asked for a Dublin service in Mount Argus Church in Harold's Cross before the coffin was flown to Cork for the funeral.

Mrs Lynch also expressed a wish that Mr O'Malley would sit with the Lynch family at the top of the church for the funeral Mass on Saturday. He had been a great friend of the Lynches and was a huge support to Mrs Lynch during the last months of her husband's illness.

Peter Ryan's team planning the State funeral included Brian Collinge, the head of protocol in the Department of the Taoiseach, and staff from the Government Information Service.

The cathedral holds only 1,000 people. It was decided that the top 15 rows at the right-hand side would be reserved for the Lynch family and close friends. Other rows were reserved for representatives of various Cork associations, national and local GAA members, members of Cork Corporation and approximately 450 members of the public who were accommodated on a first-come first-served basis.

The front pew on the left-hand side of the church was reserved for the President, Mrs McAleese and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, her aide-de-camp and chaplain; the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and his aide-decamp and chaplain; and the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damien Wallace, and his wife and chaplain.

The next pews were reserved for Ministers and Ministers of State. The Council of State, including ex-Taoisigh, were to be seated in the row behind. The seats were not allocated by name. The next rows were reserved for the judiciary. Then came TDs and senators.

When Mr O'Malley arrived in the cathedral on Saturday the family pews at the top of the church were already full. One of the many stewards directing the congregation to their seats pointed Mr O'Malley in the direction of the pews reserved on the other side of the church for the Council of State. These rows were still in a prominent position. There was room there.

Mr O'Malley slipped into the pew and some minutes later Mr Haughey walked into the church and joined him, unaware initially of who he sat beside. Both men shook hands twice, once when Mr Haughey first sat into his seat and later at the sign of peace during the ceremony.

After the funeral there were refreshments for those who helped to organise it and for family and friends of Mr Lynch in the Silversprings Hotel in Cork city. There, Mrs Lynch thanked everybody for their help and support during her trying few days.

Mrs Lynch flew back to Dublin on Saturday night along with some of the Government team who had organised the funeral. When the flight landed, she walked first down the steps and stood and shook hands and individually thanked everybody for their help.

Mrs Lynch also wrote to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on Monday to thank the Government for the funeral. The letter was read out at Tuesday's Government meeting.

Mrs Lynch is known to have been upset by some of the newspaper reports which appeared in the past week. She has made it known that it was not true her husband had agreed with Des O'Malley that he would deliver the oration. It was she who asked Des O'Malley to give the oration after his death.

She was also unhappy with reports that there was no presentation or dinner organised for Mr Lynch after he retired as Taoiseach. She has said this was his wish as he wanted his departure to be as low-key as possible.