Former Chief Justice Mr Tom O'Higgins made a historic contribution of service to the State but always remained an unassuming and straightforward man, mourners at his funeral Mass were told yesterday.
Hundreds of people from the worlds of politics and the judiciary filled St Patrick's church in Monkstown, Co Dublin.
They heard Father Bruce Bradley SJ, chief celebrant, recount Mr O'Higgins's life of public service as a Fine Gael TD, a minister for health, Chief Justice and judge of the European court.
The mourners were led by his widow, Terry, his children, Tom, Geraldine, Michael, Barry, Kevin, Derval and Shane, his 30 grandchildren, brother Michael and sister Rosaleen.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide-de-camp, Col Terry Young, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, by his aide-de-camp, Capt Ger O'Grady. The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, represented the Government.
Father Bradley said the tributes paid to Mr O'Higgins had been heartwarming and thoroughly deserved.
"Two things struck me particularly about him and about what we are celebrating now.
"On the one hand, there is a solemn sense of historical contribution of service he has made to our country and, on the other, an awareness of the privilege it has been to know someone who, in the midst of public office and all that goes with it, always remained a simply good man, a just man in the truest, most profound sense," he said.
Mr O'Higgins used the social environment in which he grew up to develop his outstanding gifts of mind and heart in promoting a tolerant, inclusive democracy, in reconciling those who had been divided from one another by history, and in achieving a more just society.
"Of few in our public life can it be said, as it can be said of Tom O'Higgins, that his influence has been wholly exemplary. And for all his many-layered distinctions, he remained the unassuming, entirely straightforward man he always was," Father Bradley said.
Mr O'Higgins was also a humble man. "Tom O'Higgins was a just man, a man of justice, in the obvious senses with which we are familiar: barrister, judge of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice, judge of the European Court. He was also a man of justice as a statesman, reconciler, campaigner for a just society."
A concelebrant was Mgr Michael Nolan, who represented Cardinal Desmond Connell.
The judiciary was well represented with many judges wearing formal frock coats and top hats. Those attending included the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Keane, and the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, as well as Supreme Court and High Court judges, barristers and solicitors.
Others included Judge Conor Maguire SC, chairman of the Bar Council, Mr Richard Cooke SC, father of the Bar and Mr Justice Moriarty, chairman of the Moriarty tribunal.
Many retired members of the judiciary were also present including former Chief Justice, Mr Justice Finlay, the former President of the High Court and former Fine Gael TD, Mr Justice Costello, Mr Justice Lynch, Mr Justice Murphy, Mr Justice Barr and Mr Justice Barrington. The Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady, as well as former AGs Mr Paddy Connolly, Mr John Rogers, Mr Dermot Gleeson and Mr Eoin Fitzsimons also attended.
Two former Taoisigh, Mr Liam Cosgrave and Dr Garret FitzGerald, were present as well as many TDs, past and present, from Fine Gael, including former leaders Mr Michael Noonan and Mr Alan Dukes.
Others present included the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, and the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown County Council, Mr Donal Marren.
Col William Nott, the deputy Judge-Advocate General of the Defence Forces, represented the Chief of Staff.