A large attendance at journalist and broadcaster Mary Raftery’s funeral this morning included many abuse victims as well as representatives from the worlds of politics, media and the arts.
A humanist ceremony, it took place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin and was conducted by Brian Whiteside. “Mary", he said, “very much identified with the humanist world view, based on a concern for humanity in general and the individual in particular.”
The ceremony was prepared by Mary Raftery herself before her death last Tuesday.
Her husband David Waddell said his was “a command performance. She asked that I speak and, slightly witheringly, said – if you’re able to!”
Following the extensive publicity which followed her death in recent days he felt “we must concentrate on her flaws. It is important for balance.”
He recalled that she “couldn’t cook for nuts” and had even “burnt a boiled egg.” She was also “a dreadful gardener.” She was very competitive, “played pool viciously and with great determination.” She was also a great supporter of the Leinster rugby team.
More seriously he said she drew inspiration from ideas rooted in "socialism. Social democracy, human rights, human dignity." And from Primo Levi's book If This is a Man, dealing with experiences in a German concentration camp near Auschwitz.
Her idea was "to be a voice for the voiceless" and for those who needed support in pursuit of justice. He spoke of the opposition she had faced in this from institutions, "including RTÉ", in the preparation of the 1999 States of Fear series. There was "little support" then for Mary and her colleague Sheila Ahern, he said. It had "direct adverse health consequences for both of them," he said.
Contemplating the future, he commented “with friends and family we will overcome this agony.”
Mary's close friend Sheila Ahern reflected that "what people didn't see was the very soft side she shared with close friends and family." She spoke of Mary's courage and the difficulties they had both faced at RTÉ in getting States of Fear broadcast in 1999.
“There hadn’t been a whole lot of support for the series,” she said. At one stage Mary “said to me 'we’re going – I said where?' and she said 'we’re packing tapes and all and we are going home'. She was absolutely determined to leave taking the transmission tapes and not coming back. Luckily there were phone call negotiations….”
She concluded “I have lost my best friend but she’ll never be far from my heart.”
Niece Isolde Raftery recalled how Mary “loved children and growing up she treated us all as adults.” She also “loved to play but hated to lose”. She concluded with words on behalf of Mary’s mother Ita, “good night sweet Mary, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Friend and colleague Fintan O’Toole said “Irish society was blessed to have her courage and integrity and Irish journalism was blessed to have in her its finest exemplar of the ways in which a sometimes grubby business can yet immensely enrich a democracy. The people whose stories she helped to tell were blessed to find a champion of such tirelessness and resilience, such deep sympathy and such clarity of purpose.
“Those of us who were her friends are blessed to have shared, in however small a way, in a life that will not be extinguished while the dream of justice lives in our hearts,” he said.
Bartitone Mark Ennis sang the songs Moonriver and Sunshine. Other music included Bob Dylan's Forever Young with some classical pieces by a string quartet.
Chief mourners were Mary’s husband David, their son Ben, her mother Ita, sister Iseult and brothers Adrian and Iain.
Captain Emmet Harney represented President Higgins with Cmdt Mick Treacy representing the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Government Ministers present included Pat Rabbitte, Joan Burton, Roisin Shortall and Joe Costello.
Abuse victims present included John Kelly of Soca Ireland, Carmel McDonnell-Byrne of the Aislinn Centre, Michael O’Brien of the Right to Peace group, Colm O’Gorman, founder of the One in Four Group, Mannix Flynn, Paddy Doyle, Marie Collins, musician Don Baker, Andrew Madden, and Darren McGavin whose evidence led to former priest Tony Walsh being jailed for 16 years in December 2010.
RTÉ was represented by director general Noel Curran, head of news and current affairs Ed Mulhall, head of corporate communications Kevin Dawson, former director general Cahal Goan and former head of religious programmes Fr Dermod McCarthy. Also present from RTÉ were broadcasters Miriam O'Callaghan, Mary Wilson, Joe Duffy, Marian Richardson, and Cathal Poirteir.
Representing The Irish Times were Editor Kevin O'Sullivan and Managing Editor Paddy Smyth. There too was Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, Labour TD Alex White, Fiaich McConghail of the Abbey theatre and actor Lorcan Cranitch who performed in Mary Raftery's play "No Escape" at the Peacock theatre.
The wicker coffin was carried out afterwards by Mary's female family and friends. They included Sheila Ahern, Sheila De Courcy, her sister Iseult Raftery, niece Isolde Raftery, Pauline Waddell, and niece Deirdre Roycroft.
Cremation took place this afternoon at Mount Jerome in Harold’s Cross.
