As bitter winds raced through midtown Manhattan's skyscrapers, a 100-year-old former Garda superintendent, Mr William Geary, stepped from a limousine to clasp warmly the hand of the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, yesterday.
Last month the Minister requested a meeting between them to acknowledge Mr Geary's successful 71-year battle to clear his name of bribery charges.
Mr Geary was sacked in June 1928 without formal charges, a disciplinary hearing or trial for allegedly accepting £100 from the IRA when serving as a Garda superintendent in Kilrush, Co Clare. He denied the charge and emigrated in disgrace to New York City that year.
Mr O'Donoghue made an announcement clearing Mr Geary's name and restoring his honour in April despite strong opposition from within the Department of Justice and the precedent set by former governments. Mr Geary was also awarded £67,500 .
The Minister's request for a meeting was "the most gracious possible thing", said Mr Geary. "I was very surprised and never expected it although I always wanted to thank the Minister in person."
Before the meeting Mr O'Donoghue said he "intended to tell Mr Geary that modern Ireland is a far different place to the Ireland which he left and that it has not forgotten the sacrifices which people like him made. This new Ireland wants to say sorry to him for what happened."
Their private meeting continued over lunch in Rosie O'Grady's bar and restaurant. Mr Geary was accompanied by his daughter, Ms Helen Geary Markett, and his godson, Mr John Patrick Collins.
The Minister expressed his tremendous admiration for Mr Geary. "Mr Geary's story epitomises the unquenchable thirst of the human spirit for justice. It's about a man's determination, commitment and burning desire to clear his name."
Mr Geary said family pride was his main motivation. "I had to do it. It was my duty to clear the family name. I was absolutely innocent and that also sustained me through the years."
Mr O'Donoghue was in Manhattan at the invitation of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to confirm the Government's £15,000 yearly donation to the Jerry McCabe Fellowship programme.