Integrity of Michael Mills recalled

FORMER JOURNALIST and ombudsman Michael Mills shared qualities of integrity and courage with his great friend, the late president Dr Patrick Hillery, who predeceased him by just one day, the chief celebrant at Mr Mills's Requiem Mass said yesterday.

Marist priest Fr John Hannon told mourners in St Pius X Church, Templeogue, that Mr Mills had been an exemplary "father, political commentator, public servant and friend". He "shared the limelight" over the last few days with another great Irishman and friend, Patrick Hillery, "both celebrated for their strong moral compass on life".

Mr Mills was buried in Kilmashogue Cemetery after the funeral Mass which was concelebrated by seven priests. The chief mourners were Mr Mills's wife Bríd, their eight children and their grandchildren.

The funeral was attended by former taoiseach Dr Garrett FitzGerald and representatives of the President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Dr John Hillery, son of the late president, was also among the mourners.

In his eulogy, Fr Hannon recalled regular lunch meetings with Mr Mills at which everything "from God to politics" would be discussed. "I think of discussions we had on the death penalty where he took a position that wasn't always politically correct. I remember a deep discussion with him on on Guantánamo Bay and the rights of those who were taking the lives of so many others."

Fr Hannon did not elaborate on the views but added that Mr Mills had also taken "a clear line" on what the church should do in response to the child abuse scandals, adding: "And he was right".

Fr Hannon also referred to Mr Mills's care and compassion for the elderly, poor and marginalised.

In his address, journalist and columnist James Downey recalled that Mr Mills had, as political correspondent of the Irish Press, faced down suggestions from the late James Dillon of Fine Gael that an Irish Press reporter would necessarily have a bias in favour of Fianna Fáil.

Mr Downey added that Mr Mills had equally faced down pressure from Fianna Fáil backbench TDs that he should indeed display such a bias.

Gerald Mills spoke of his father's love of newspapers and informed debate. "He had a passion for newspapers and political life," adding that as children, he and his siblings "didn't know the job of a journalist, all we knew was that he talked to somebody".

He said his father's last months had contained disappointment that he could not get out to play golf as much as he liked, but that the internet had proved to be an invaluable access to current affairs.

Among the mourners were many people from the worlds of politics and media including Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly; RTÉ broadcasters Brian Farrell and Seán Duignan; Irish TimesPolitical Editor Stephen Collins; former Dublin city and county manager Frank Feely, and John O'Shea, founder of the aid agency Goal and a former Irish Pressjournalist.