President attends Brennan removal

THE PRESIDENT, the Taoiseach, former taoisigh and many members of the Houses of the Oireachtas were among the mourners at the removal of the remains of former minister Séamus Brennan to the Church of the Holy Cross in Dundrum yesterday evening.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Eamon Walsh, who was also representing the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, currently in Sydney, said Mr Brennan during his political career had managed to do a great deal of good for many.

The parish priest of Dundrum, Fr Donal O'Doherty, who presided at the removal, said Mr Brennan was a happy man who had brought great happiness to his family and to the wider community through his actions.

He said Mr Brennan had distinguished himself by responding with insight and graciousness to political opponents and the media during his political career.

Fr O'Doherty expressed his condolences to the chief mourners, Mr Brennan's wife Ann and his children Shay, Daire, Aoife, Breffni, Sine and Eanna, and the extended Brennan family.

Theologian Fr Enda McDonagh, a distant relative of Mr Brennan, also joined in the prayers.

The dignitaries who paid their respects were led by President McAleese and her husband, Martin, Mayor of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Tom Joyce, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, and Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue.

Former taoisigh Liam Cosgrave, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern were also among the mourners.

Most members of the Cabinet also attended, including the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan; the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin; Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern; Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon Ó Cuív; and Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea.

Among the Ministers of State present were Barry Andrews, Dr Jimmy Devins, Johnny Moloney, Seán Power, Máire Hoctor, Seán Haughey and Martin Mansergh.

Among the TDs at the removal were Mr Brennan's Dublin South Fianna Fáil constituency colleague Tom Kitt, and Fine Gael's Alan Shatter, who also represents the constituency.

Among other TDs were the former Labour leader Ruairí Quinn, Cyprian Brady, Mattie McGrath, Trevor Sargent, Beverley Flynn, Timmy Dooley and Joe Costello. Senators Martin Brady, Eugene Regan, Maria Corrigan and Marc MacSharry were also in attendance, as was Dublin MEP Eoin Ryan.

The founder of the Progressive Democrats and long-time friend of Mr Brennan, Des O'Malley, and his wife Pat, attended, as did former PD deputies Michael McDowell, Liz O'Donnell and Tom Parlon.

Former Labour Party minister and MEP Barry Desmond attended, as did former minister and European commissioner Richard Burke.

Former minister Paddy Power and the former TDs Ben Briscoe and Nuala Fennell, who represented Dublin South, were there, as was the former general secretary of the Labour Party, Séamus Scally.