Kinlen care for human rights praised

Sr Aideen, sister of Dermot Kinlen, quoted one of his heroes, Archbishop Oscar Romero, on his life's work - "One must speak for the voiceless. Who will speak if you don't?" - at the judge's funeral Mass yesterday in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin,

Tributes were paid to the late Mr Justice Kinlen's concern for human rights both internationally and in his role as inspector of prisons.

Cardinal Desmond Connell said of him that "in his life we find a wonderful synthesis, a wonderful harmony between the secular vocation and the Christian life."

The Mass celebrant Archdeacon Michael Murphy said in his homily: "I have lived a long time and I can say Dermot Kinlen was a most unforgettable person."

"He was the Good Samaritan and, as Peig said, he had 'the one way with him, with high and low'." Reflecting on the late judge's "deep faith" he said "though the end came suddenly he was prepared".

Archdeacon Murphy recalled how "he used say 'my bags are packed. I'm in the departure lounge. The flight is delayed'."

Chief mourners were his sister Sr Aideen, his brother Kevin and his wife Deirdre, and their children Louise, Philip, Sarah, and David.

The large attendance included Capt Lorraine Fahy representing President Mary McAleese and Cmdt Michael Murray representing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who had personally attended the removal on Friday.

Also there were the Ceann Comhairle, John O'Donoghue, Justice Brian Lenihan, Attorney General Paul Gallagher and Chief Justice John Murray.

As well as Cardinal Connell the large contingent of clergy from various denominations present included Bishop Ray Field, Archdeacon David Pierpoint, Dean Robert MacCarthy, retired Archbishop Donald Caird, Rev Terence McCaughey, Fr Pat Carroll, parish priest Donnybrook and Fr Martin Clarke, parish priest in Monkstown.

Also there were Dr Ken Whittaker, former attorney general Harry Whelehan, former PD leader Desmond O'Malley, former European commissioner Michael O'Kennedy, Barry Andrews TD, and Senator Mary Henry.

Judges present included Justices Adrian Hardiman, Yvonne Murphy, Paul Carney, Roderick Murphy, Ronan Keane, Séamus Henchy, Frank Murphy, Frank Griffin, Peter Kelly, Éamon de Valera, Nial Fennelly, John McMenamin, George Birmingham and Mr Hugh O'Flaherty, Lord Justice Girvan of the Northern Ireland High Court, William McKechnie, Patricia Ryan, Mary Laffoy, Catherine Murphy, Paul Butler, Daniel Herbert, Kevin Feeney, Michael Peart, John Edwards, Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Petria McDonnell, Maureen Clark, Henry Abbott, John O'Donnell, Declan Budd, Robert Barr, and Frederick Morris.

The attendance at the removal on Friday included Judge Patrick McCarthy who was incorrectly identified in our report.