Burial to take place at Glasnevin Cemetery

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:DR CONOR Cruise O'Brien will be buried in Glasnevin Cemetery following funeral Mass on Monday in Co Dublin.

Dr Cruise O’Brien, who was a former government minister and a noted diplomat, scholar, writer, columnist and journalist, died on Thursday aged 91 at his home in Howth.

His removal takes place this evening to the Church of the Assumption, arriving at 5pm and the funeral Mass on Monday at 11.30am

In a wide-ranging career, Dr Cruise O’Brien served as a civil servant in the Departments of Finance and External Affairs.

He also worked at the United Nations.

Dr Cruise O’Brien was elected as a Labour TD in 1969 and served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from 1973 until he lost his Dáil seat in 1977.

He joined the UK Unionist Party in the mid-1990s but resigned in 1998 after suggesting in his memoirs that unionists might be better off in a united Ireland.

He was a columnist for a number of papers including The Irish Times and also served as editor-in-chief of the Observer newspaper.

Dr Cruise O’Brien is survived by his wife Máire Mhac An tSaoi, their daughter Margaret, son Patrick, and by his daughter Fedelma and son Donal from his first marriage. His daughter Kate from his first marriage predeceased him.

He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Laurence and Mark Simms, Alexander Kearney, Sarah Lathan, Milo and Inigo Cruise O’Brien and two great grandchildren Lily and Joe Cruise O’Brien.