Derek Doyle, an Oireachtas usher and former member of the Defence Forces who was killed while cycling before Christmas, was remembered as a “proud Cabra man” who was dedicated to his wife and daughter at his funeral on Tuesday.
Mr Doyle, who was in his 50s, died when he was hit by a truck near Castleknock village on December 19th. He was cycling home to Clonsilla from Leinster House.
At his funeral in the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Cabra, Mr Doyle’s friend Alan told how he had met him in the Defence Forces in 1991.
“We transferred from the fifth battalion into the Air Corps. I worked with him for many years. What can I say about Derek? From the time I met him I could see the self-assuredness and the confidence,” he said. His friend was “always, always cheerful, always did his job professionally, never ever disappointed anybody.
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“He could be ferrying the President around, any minister, civil servants up and down to Belfast twice a week and Derek was always, always cheerful and dependable. Always totally reliable.
“A lot of people lost a friend here, a colleague and a comrade. I lost my best friend and I can only imagine the pain these two ladies are feeling,” he said referring to Mr Doyle’s wife Tania and daughter Hazel.
“Derek served overseas with pride and Hazel is now wearing his medals with pride, and rightly so ... He got on with everybody. Everybody liked Derek ... I haven’t the heart to say any more ... RIP Doyler. You played a blinder. Thank you.”
A colleague from Leinster House who gave his name as Graham described Mr Doyle as “a proud Cabra-man, a team player who proved to be a loyal work colleague – a quality that extended across his many varied roles.
“For me and many, Derek was a true friend. Derek’s dedication to doing the right thing was legendary. He didn’t just work hard. Derek poured his heart into everything he did – a fine example for us all to follow. He had a gift for bringing people together. Derek was thoughtful and considerate and his warmth turned colleagues into friends – important when our workplace can almost become a second home.”
He was a “proud family man, a dedicated husband and a father who doted and loved Hazel and Tania”, he added.
Gifts brought to the altar, representing Mr Doyle’s life, included his passport, aftershave, wine gums, a wedding photo and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation. His daughter placed his beret on the coffin.
Taoiseach Simon Harris was represented at the funeral by his Aide De Camp, Commandant Claire Mortimer.
The recessional music was Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Mr Doyle was the husband of independent Fingal councillor Tania Doyle and the father of Hazel Doyle, who works for Fingal County Council.
An Garda Síochána has appealed for any witnesses to the road traffic incident to make contact.
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