The late barrister and Fianna Fáil strategist, Mr Éamon Leahy SC, was a gentle giant and larger than life in more ways than one, mourners at his funeral Mass yesterday were told.
The Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady, paid tribute to the unique warmth, professional ability, loyalty, humour and generosity of Mr Leahy, who was married to the government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, for 18 years.
The president, Mrs McAleese, as well as Supreme and High Court judges, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, cabinet members and members of the legal profession were among the mourners in the Church of St John the Baptist in Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Mr Leahy's father, Éamon, and his brothers, Tom and Feargal, were accompanied by his widow's father, Mr Des Hanafin, her mother, Mona, and her brother, Senator John Hanafin. Mr Leahy died suddenly last Thursday, aged 46.
Mr Brady, who started at the bar with Mr Leahy in 1979, described him as a criminal lawyer of pre-eminence in this generation who was in constant demand. His colleagues felt a huge sense of loss at his tragic death as he was a loyal friend, a good colleague and a raconteur.
Mr Brady described his friend's wit and professional modesty, with several anecdotes illustrating these qualities. He said that about 18 months ago, when he was requested to take up the post of chairman of the Censorship of Publications Board, he spoke with Mr Leahy on the telephone about the opportunity. Mr Leahy persuaded him to take the position in one sentence. "He said: 'Brady, you could not possibly refuse to be the chairperson of the dirty mags tribunal.' I accepted the job," Mr Brady said.
The Attorney General also praised Mr Leahy's political insight and joked that he had predicted that one day there would be "a tribunal of inquiry into the tribunals of inquiry".
It was true to say that Mr Leahy was "larger than life in more ways than one", and with his death last Thursday, "a light went out in all of our lives", he added.
In his sermon, Fr Martin Clarke said Mr Leahy's family, friends and colleagues have recalled in recent days his great human qualities, his "extraordinary devotion to Mary", his consistency of temperament and his even-handedness in his approach to people, no matter what their station in life.
"Some have described him over these days as a gentle giant," he said. "If you take his professional ability and human qualities, you could sum him up as a person of great gentleness and strength and these are qualities which every disciple of Jesus is called upon to have." Fr Clarke offered his sympathy to Mr Leahy's family, and said he would contribute in no small way to the "heavenly banquet".
Many cabinet members were among the mourners at the funeral, including Mr Charlie McCreevy, Mr Dermot Ahern, Mr Joe Walsh, Ms Mary Coughlan, Mr Michael Smith, Mr Micheal Martin, Mr Michael McDowell, and Mr John O'Donoghue, who was a close friend of Mr Leahy. The leader of the Senate, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, and former ministers Dr Michael Woods and Ms Síle DeValera, also attended.
The former Fianna Fáil Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, was present, as was the Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, Fine Gael's Chief Whip, Mr Bernard Durkan, Mr John Gormley TD from the Green Party and the Fianna Fáil general secretary, Mr Seán Dorgan. Mr Martin McGuinness from Sinn Féin and the Fianna Fáil Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady, were also among the attendance.
Supreme Court and some High Court cases were rescheduled to allow senior members of the judiciary and the Bar to attend the funeral mass. They included the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Ronan Keane and Supreme Court judges, Mr Justice John Murray, Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan, Mr Justice Niall Fennelly and Mr Justice Brian McCracken. Also in attendance were High Court judges, Mr Justice Iarflaith O'Neill, Mr Justice Daniel Herbert, Mrs Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan and Mr Justice Richard Johnson. Retired judges, Mr Justice Flood, formerly of the Flood Tribunal and Mr Justice Robert Barr from the Barr Tribunal, were also present, as were Mr Justice Frederick Morris from the Morris Tribunal and Mr Justice Michael Moriarty from the Moriarty Tribunal.
The Garda Síochána was represented by the new Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, and Assistant Commissioners, Mr Tony Hickey and Mr Fachtna Murphy. Ms Geraldine Kennedy, editor, represented The Irish Times. Other mourners included Mr William Binchy from Trinity College, Dublin, the writer Mr Gerry Stembridge and Ms Alice Leahy from the TRUST service for homeless people.