Members of the judiciary and the clergy gathered yesterday at the removal of former High Court judge, Mr Rory O'Hanlon.
At St Mary's Church, Sandyford, Co Dublin, tribute was paid to Mr O'Hanlon as a man with very strong beliefs and who was a loving husband and father.
The chief mourners were his wife, Barbara and their five children and Mr O'Hanlon's seven children from his first marriage to Mary who died in the 1960s.
Attending the removal was Cardinal Desmond Connell and many members of the clergy. Dr Connell led prayers at the end of the ceremony.
Among the congregation were the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Keane, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, members of the Supreme Court and High Court bench, barristers and solicitors. Mr Justice Flood, chairman of the Flood Tribunal also atten- ded.
Many retired members of the judiciary present included a former Chief Justice, Mr Thomas Finlay.
The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp Capt Ger O'Grady. Also in the congregation were Senator Des Hanafin, and Dr Mary Lucey, formerly of SPUC. Among the mourners was Mr Matt Leech who was Mr O'Hanlon's tip-staff in the courts for 13 years.
During the removal ceremony symbols of Mr O'Hanlon's life were placed on the casket, including his prayer book, crucifix, and rosary beads.
Mr O'Hanlon's brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was placed in the casket with him.
Father Thomas Ingoldsby who was with Mr O'Hanlon when he died said he received the Sacrament on Palm Sunday and had a sprig of palm in his hand. He said Mr O'Hanlon had strong religious beliefs and that he was pained by contraception, the legalisation of divorce. He was also pained that there could be measures that would legalise abortion.
Father Ingoldsby said Mr O'Hanlon criticised the X case judgment. He had called for a new constitutional referendum that would assure that the unborn child, from the moment of conception, should have the same right to life as a child born alive.
"Rory would not surrender to the whims of politicians," Father Ingoldsby said.
One of Mr O'Hanlon's sons, Redmond, paid tribute to his father, saying he and all his brothers and sisters had a wonderful childhood.
Requiem Mass will be at 11 a.m. concelebrated by the parish priest Father Eamann Cahill.