The sudden death of Circuit Court judge Con Murphy at the age of just 51 had left a huge void not just for his family and local community but also among the judiciary, mourners at his funeral mass heard today.
Fr Denis O'Leary told the hundreds of mourners who thronged St Patrick's Church in Bandon that the late Judge Murphy would sadly missed first and foremost by his wife, Miriam; mother Theresa; brothers Dan and Phil; sister Margaret; and other relatives.
But Judge Murphy's death had also shocked the countless friends who had come to mourn him, he said ."Con is a huge loss - a loss to you as a family, a loss to the town, a great loss to the judiciary and to the legal world - we acknowledged his outstanding legal knowledge," Fr O'Leary said.
"He was a man blessed with such a brilliant intelligence of mind, not only in law but in the arts, language, history, geography, current affairs and sport. Not only was he so brilliant but he was also deeply rooted with the gift of outstanding common sense," he added.
In a poignant eulogy, Dr Dan Murphy spoke of his brother's great optimism in life and his great love of reading, classical music, GAA, politics, current affairs, travel, the Irish language and bowl-playing as well as his great generosity towards people.
His close friend, senior counsel Tom Creed, said the late Judge Murphy was possibly the most gregarious person he had ever met, possessing an ability to make friends no matter where he was and no matter what company he was in.
Leading the mourners were Judge Murphy's widow, Miriam; mother Theresa; brothers Dan and Phil; sister Margaret as well as his nieces and nephews and other relations, while among the many clergy present was the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley.
Also among the many hundreds of mourners were several members of the judiciary, including colleagues from Cork Circuit Court, Judge Patrick Moran, Judge Sean O Donnabhain and Judge James O'Donoghue, as well as the Circuit Court president, Judge Matthew Deery.
Other members of the judiciary present included former Circuit Court president Judge Esmonde Smyth and current judges Desmond Hogan, Jaqueline Linnane, Alison Lindsay Tony Hunt, Olive Buttimer, Patricia Ryan, Martin Nolan, Carroll Moran and Tom O'Donnell.
Retired High Court judge Bryan MacMahon also paid his respects as did District Court judges David Riordan, Con O'Leary, James McNulty, Terence Finn, Olan Kelleher, and Peter McDonnell, and retired judges, Michael Pattwell, Uinsinn Mac Gruairc and Brendan Wallace.
Other legal figures present included former attorney general Paul Gallagher; senior counsel Dr John O'Mahony, Jim O'Mahony and Tim O'Leary; and barristers Jim Duggan, Pearse Sreenan, Elizabeth O'Connell, Gareth Fleming and Jane Hyland.
Also present were State solicitors Barry Galvin, Malachy Boohig, John Brosnan and Frank Nyhan while among the gardaí who paid their respects were Chief Supt Tom Hayes, Det Chief Supt Tony Quilter, Supt Pat Maher and Supt Eddie Mac Eoin.
Prior to his elevation to the bench in November 2004, Judge Murphy was a member of Fianna Fáil who served twice as mayor of Bandon and among the political figures at his funeral were Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Terry Shannon.
Others to attend included former minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, Senator Denis O'Donovan, former Fianna Fail TDs Christy O'Sullivan and Denis Lyons, as well as Cork GAA team doctor, Dr Con Murphy and educationalist Padraig Hamilton.
Members of Bandon GAA Club formed a guard of honour as did members of the West Cork Bar, which included solicitors, James Long, Plunkett Taaffe,Flor Murphy, Ray Hennessy, Helen Collins, Eamon Fleming, John Brooks, Phil O'Regan and Maura O'Donovan.