Taoiseach leads Dail in paying tribute to Lawlor

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern led tributes in the Dáil to former TD Liam Lawlor who died last month in a car crash in Moscow.

Mr Ahern said Mr Lawlor, who was first elected to the Dáil in 1977, was "controversial but a good guy and a nice person around this House".

Mr Ahern said "the circumstances of Liam's death were surrounded in the same blaze of controversy that surrounded much of his political life". However he added that "we all have our faults and moral judgment is something we should pass sparingly".

Mr Lawlor's wife, Hazel, and members of his family sat in the distinguished visitors gallery during the tributes by party leaders and constituency colleagues.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described the former Dublin West deputy as a "larger than life character, obviously adored by his family to whom he was so devoted".

He said that "personally he was a kind and generous man".

While they had "different political agendas and views, on a personal basis he and I enjoyed a close relationship, principally because of a mutual interest in sport".

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said there was a principle that "one does not speak ill of the dead and I do not intend to depart from the stricture". He said that he had more than his fair share of conflict with Mr Lawlor.

"I would like to be able to say that he had used his prodigious talents exclusively in the interests of public service and to enhance politics. I cannot say that but today is not the time to assess the political contribution of Liam Lawlor." It was a day instead to offer sincere condolences to his family.

Tánaiste Mary Harney condemned the media coverage of Mr Lawlor's death as "appallingly inaccurate" and said the reports were "a cross no family should have to bear, least of all Hazel Lawlor and her family".

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the late TD was a capable and talented deputy. "He was not the type of TD who was in any way happy to tread water and pass time. He was always doing something."

Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin echoed the criticisms of the media coverage of Mr Lawlor's death as unacceptable and unforgivable.

Minister of State Brian Lenihan noted that "no adverse finding was made against him by any court or tribunal prior to his death" and he added that many in the legal profession believed that "he would have been an outstanding advocate".

Paul Gogarty (Greens) said Mr Lawlor had been an inspiration for him in getting into politics.