'There's only one Liam Lawlor'

THE eldest son of Liam Lawlor criticised the media for turning his father into “a figure of hate” in a moving eulogy at his father’s funeral mass in Lucan yesterday.

Niall Lawlor told a packed congregation of mourners at St Patrick's church in Esker that he did not recognise his father as the same man who was berated in the media throughout much of his political career.

Mr Lawlor, who flew to Moscow at the weekend to arrange the return of his father's body from Moscow, said the tragedy had been made "all the more difficult by certain events in the aftermath of my father's untimely death".

However, in a lengthy tribute, he declared that the requiem service, as a sacred occasion, was not the time to address inaccurate media reports about the circumstances of his father's fatal accident.

Confining himself to one "political" observation, Mr Lawlor said: "You will understand that the man depicted in certain parts of the media in such a cruel and vicious way over the last few years and days is a million miles away from the man [known] to me and the rest of my family."

At various stages, he struggled to hold back tears as he looked down on his father's coffin draped in a Tricolour at the front of the altar.

He recalled his father's kindness which was typified by one incident when he had lent his umbrella to a journalist.

In a wry, bitter-sweet comment, Mr Lawlor remarked: "I hope this simple act of generosity on behalf of my father does not lead to yet another inquiry into Lawlor's missing umbrella."

At a later stage he observed: "Behind the hateful and extremely hurtful things that have been said about Dad by many sections [of the media], there was a genuine, human person."

He described his father as someone who never claimed to be perfect but as someone who loved life and enjoyed the craic, despite being "vocally challenged".

Among the offertory gifts were a Dublin GAA jersey, hurley and sliothar and a declaration of election to Dáil Éireann mementoes of Mr Lawlor's political and sporting career.

Chief mourners were Mr Lawlor's widow, Hazel; his children, Niall, Ciara, Shane and Gerald; brother, Noel and sister, Marie.

Niall Lawlor, a New York stockbroker, led his two brothers who are also based in the US, in paying tributes to the man described as someone who loved "his family, politics, sport and Ireland".

Gerald Lawlor joked how his father had even managed to turn golf into a contact sport.

The parish priest of St Patrick's, Fr Tony Reilly, said: "He was an outstanding communicator, very specially when the going got rough."

He added: "Liam was lively, full of fun and good-humoured."

Fr Reilly recalled that the late TD was a great family man who took particular pride in his three grandchildren Liam, James and Nicole.

He also spoke of the deceased's great sense of generosity and his tireless work as a politician for his constituents.

During the Prayers for the Faithful, Mr Lawlor's daughter, Ciara Langan, expressed how glad she was that her father had got to know his granddaughter for six months.

The politician's secretary, Ann Polat, broke down in tears as she described her employer as "a wonderful, caring boss, a great friend and confidante".

His close friend, Pat Long, who jokingly said he was both Mr Lawlor's bodyguard and driver, recounted his good turns for the poor, sick and needy in his Dublin West constituency.

"If a problem could be solved, Liam would solve it. If it couldn't be solved, Liam would still solve it," said Mr Long, his voice breaking.

To loud applause he declared: "There's only one Liam Lawlor."