He was "a beautiful, caring, goodlooking, thoughtful, house-proud bloke", Ms Laura Byrne said. She was speaking of family friend Kevin Garry (43), following his funeral Mass before a packed congregation at the St Charles Borromeo Church in Leixlip, Co Kildare, yesterday.
Mr Garry was one of five people killed in the Dublin Bus tragedy at Wellington Quay in Dublin on Saturday. The chief mourners were his three sisters, Olive, Mary and Josephine, and his brother Enda. His parents and sister Nuala pre-deceased him.
The Taoiseach was represented by Commandant Michael Murray ADC. The chairman of CIÉ, Dr John Lynch, Dublin Bus managing director, Dr Alan Westwell, and three senior Dublin Bus managers attended. Mr Howard Russell, manager of the Salvation Army hostel in Dublin where Mr Garry was a cleaner, led a group of colleagues.
In his homily, chief celebrant Father Philip Corcoran quoted from the 16th century verse Desiderata: "Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism." That, he said, "was very true of Kevin's life, of greeting tragedies and facing up to them". Father Corcoran referred to another bus accident the dead man had 15 years ago, which left him without full use of one arm and a speech impediment. "He did have wonderful mental resources. It proved that adversity often brings out the best in people," the priest said.
Items brought to the altar in the offertory procession included Roy Keane's autobiography and a Manchester United jersey. As the coffin was carried down the aisle, Joe's Cocker's You Are So Beautiful to Me was played.
The removals of two other victims of the tragedy took place in Dublin last night. Mrs Margaret Traynor's remains were taken to Our Lady Immaculate church in Darndale. Her funeral Mass is at noon today. The remains of Mrs Teresa Keatley were taken to Our Lady of Victories church, Ballymun Road. Her funeral Mass is at 11.30 this morning.