Mourners pay respects to Mitchell
Up to 2000 mourners packed into St Joseph’s Church for the removal of the 56-year-old former Fine Gael minister and deputy leader who lost a three-year battle against cancer.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Cardinal Desmond Connell were among the mourners.
Lord Mayor Dermot Lacey represented Dublin City Council, on which Mr Mitchell served for many years. He was Lord Mayor himself in 1976.
Former Fine Gael leaders Liam Cosgrave, Alan Dukes, John Bruton and Michael Noonan were also in attendance, along with former ministers Gemma Hussey and Nora Owen, MEP Mary Banotti and many of the Fine Gael front bench and TDs, past and present.
Ceann Comhairle Rory O’Hanlon, SDLP leader Mark Durkan and former leader John Hume were also present.
Mr Mitchell’s popularity in political circles was reflected by the strong cross-party attendance.
Former Labour leaders Ruairí Quinn and Dick Spring, former Progressive Democrats leader Des O’Malley, Justice Minister Michael McDowell, Defence Minister Michael Smith, Health Minister Micheál Martin and a large number of junior ministers and back-bench TDs were also present.
President Mary McAleese, who is on a state visit to Wales, was represented by her aide de camp.
Many officials who had featured in Mr Mitchell’s 25-year political career were in attendance, including former Dublin city manager Frank Feeney and Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell, who worked closely with him during his successful stint as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. Leading the mourners were Mr Mitchell’s wife Patsy, his children Rúairí, Sinéad, Caitríona, Niall and Aoife, his brothers Jack, Dave and Gay, and sisters Marie, Hazel, Patsy and Joan. Mr Mitchell will be buried today at Mount Venice Cemetery, Rathfarnham, following 12pm mass.
The family has requested no flowers at the funeral and asked instead for donations to be made to the Liver Transplant Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital.
