Mr Andrew Ward, the former secretary at the Department of Justice, was described at his funeral Mass yesterday as "an exceptional servant of the State". Father Eamon Clarke, who celebrated it at the Church of St Pius X, Templeogue, Dublin, said Mr Ward was a "long-time parishioner".
He said eulogies would be inappropriate. "But I would draw your attention to the beautiful tribute in this morning's Irish Times" which had spoken of his devoted service and integrity.
Father Clarke referred to Mr Ward's contribution as the longest-serving secretary at the Department of Justice, and to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and its part in the current peace process.
A native of Cork who moved to Dublin in 1940, Mr Ward entered the civil service in 1946 and was appointed secretary at the Department of Justice in 1969. He held the post for 17 years, retiring in 1986. He died over the weekend after a long illness, aged 73.
The congregation was also addressed by his son, Eoin, and one of his daughters, Mary.
Mr Eoin Ward said his father had been "an exceptional human being and father". Everyone spoke of how private a man he was and how he shunned any praise.
"His greatest love was our mother," said Ms Mary Ward. More recently, he had taken great pleasure in his three grandchildren, Paul, Kate and Laura.
"When we were growing up, and long after we were supposed to have grown up, he looked after us with great interest in our lives. We cannot count the number of times and the number of ways he expressed his love for us. He was generous to a fault," she said.
The mourners included the former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, and a number of former ministers for justice - Mr Desmond O'Malley, Mr Jim Mitchell and Mr Alan Dukes. Also present were Mr Patrick McLaughlin, the former Garda Commissioner; Mr Jack Marrinan, the former general secretary of the Garda Representative Association; and Mr Noel Dorr, the former secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and his wife, Catriona.
Mr Ward is survived by his widow Benvon, son Eoin, and daughters Mary and Anne.