Full military honours for the last journey

At the graveyard: With full military honours, Charles J Haughey made his last journey from the church in his former constituency…

At the graveyard: With full military honours, Charles J Haughey made his last journey from the church in his former constituency to his final resting place in St Fintan's graveyard overlooking Dublin bay.

The final journey began at the church at 2.35pm, later than scheduled, and in the end the events of the day ran an hour and a half late, a point that Mr Haughey himself would definitely not have approved. As some of the people who knew him pointed out, he was a real stickler for time.

The cortege was led by the Defence Forces Band, which began the procession with a funeral march Marbhna by Col John Brennock. A colour party carried the tricolour and the flag of the Second Eastern Brigade and was escorted by the Cadet School. An infantry company drawn from the Naval Service and the second Eastern Brigade followed.

The hearse, flanked by pall- bearers, was followed by the black Mercedes cars containing family and dignitaries.

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Along the road leading to the entrance of the cemetery, a guard of honour representing the three branches of the Defence Forces, the Army, air corps and the naval service was formed.

From noon, people had been assembling in the graveyard and, as the Requiem Mass ended, more people began to arrive but the numbers never reached more than about 300 before the cortege reached the gates. As dignitaries and others arrived from the church, the numbers increased to about a thousand.

At 2.50pm Mr Haughey's brother, Fr Eoghan Haughey, arrived and went along the lines of people, shaking hands and chatting to them. At 3.40pm the strains of the Defence Forces Band could be heard, and five minutes later the cortege came into sight and turned into the gates.

A huge wreath of white lilies was carried to the grave, with other smaller floral tributes, one in the colours of the tri-colour.

At 3.55pm the coffin, draped in the tri-colour, was carried by the bearer party. The family mourners followed. Maureen Haughey was accompanied on either side by her sons, Conor and Ciaran, followed by her daughter Eimear Mulhern and son Sean, Mr Haughey's sister Maureen and other members the family.

The family was followed by President Mary McAleese and Martin McAleese, then the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and members of the Government.

At 4pm the bearer party ceremoniously removed the tri-colour from the coffin and Sgt John McGlinchy presented it to Mrs Haughey. The coffin was then lowered into the grave and Fr Haughey began the prayers.

At 4.10pm the Taoiseach began his graveside oration, finishing at 4.25pm to long applause.

The Naval service firing party fired three volleys over the grave.

At the end of the ceremonies members of the family placed flowers on the grave and crowds lingered to pay their respects.