Mourners at the removal of Dr Pat Upton, the Labour TD who died on Monday, were told that he was a "much loved and respected man" who ranked the poor, the sick, the imprisoned and refugees among his chief concerns.
Officiating at the removal of Dr Upton to St Pius X Church, Templeogue, Dublin, last night, Father Eamon Clarke told the huge congregation that his untimely death could be seen as cruel, since he died with so much left to be accomplished.
Dr Upton's coffin was carried from his nearby home by pallbearers, including his eldest son, Henry, and his close colleague in the Parliamentary Labour Party, Mr Tommy Broughan.
The Tricolour and Starry Plough draped the coffin as members of Templeogue GAA club's minor football team and the Presentation Secondary School, Terenure, formed a guard of honour.
Dr Upton's wife, Anne, flanked by her other sons, Paddy and Bob, and her daughter, Lizzy, led the many hundreds of mourners.
Among the churchmen present was the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell. Politicians from across the party divide, and from both Houses of the Oireachtas, attended in large numbers. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Kiernan, and the Government was represented by Dr Michael Woods. The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, and the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, attended as well as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
The Labour Party representation was led by the party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn.
The Labour Party president, Mr Proinsias de Rossa, attended as did the former Labour leader, Mr Dick Spring, and the party's general secretary, Mr Ray Kavanagh.
All the TDs from Dr Upton's Dublin South Central constituency - Mr Gay Mitchell, Mr Ben Briscoe, and Mr Sean Ardagh - were there. The former Dublin South Central TD for Democratic Left, Mr Eric Byrne, attended. Fine Gael was represented by the party leader, Mr John Bruton, while the party's leader in the Upper House, Senator Maurice Manning, was present.
The PDs were led by Ms O'Donnell and included the party's chairman, Senator Jim Gibbons.
The president of University College, Dublin, Dr Art Cosgrove, was there. The trade union movement was represented by Mr Peter Cassells, president of the ICTU. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Joe Doyle, was there. The former Ombudsman, Mr Michael Mills, was present as well as the political editor of The Irish Times, Mr Dick Walsh.
Addressing the congregation, Father Clarke said he did not have to repeat the "wonderful tributes" paid to Dr Upton since his death, particularly those in the Dail. He was many things - an academic, a parishioner, a senator, a Dail deputy, a husband, a father and a friend - he said.
Dail business has been suspended until 12.30 p.m. today to allow Dr Upton's parliamentary colleagues to attend his funeral. He will be buried today in Bohernabreena after 10 a.m. Mass.