‘He was our greatest treasure and we loved him so much’

IN the end the only politician named during the funeral homily of Sean Doherty was Charlie Haughey.

As Ardcarne parish priest Brian Conlon remembered the “Pope” of Roscommon’s Cootehall he didn’t shy away from the defining political moments of the man who had taken down the Boss.

“Sean knew the time to keep silence and bring to the grave secrets, yet there was also a time to speak the truth, to put the record straight. A time for war with paparazzi and gutter press and a time for peace with Charlie Haughey whom I know he will enjoy welcoming to heaven’s villa,” Father Conlon’s homily read.

In a poignant service at Ardcarne’s St Michael’s church attended by hundreds of mourners, Mr Doherty’s four daughters Evelyn, Kara, Leah and Rachel tearfully read the prayers of the faithful.

Then Rachel, who was elected as a Roscommon County Councillor last year, spoke of their love for their father. “He was our greatest treasure. He was our father and we loved him so much,” she said to loud applause.

There was laughter too when Father Conlon told of the day the man known as the Doc had told a tourist the nickname was an abbreviation for “Doherty of Coothall.”

The remains of Mr Doherty were laid to rest in the local hillside cemetery overlooking his home town to the tune of a solitary tin whistle as his wife Maura and her daughters laid single red roses on the grave.

Mr Doherty, who was first elected to the Dáil in 1977 served as a detective in Sligo and with the Special Branch in Dublin before entering local politics in 1973. He will be remembered as a controversial figure forever associated with the dramatic ending of Charles Haughey’s political career in 1992 after Mr Doherty revealed Haughey knew about the controversial phone-tapping of two journalists a decade earlier.

He retired from politics in 2002, devoting his time to property interests and family. After 60 years of controversial and colourful life Sean Doherty now lies beneath a towering beech tree just weeks after his mother Maureen was laid to rest in the same place.

In a graveside oration, lifetime friend and local man, Andy Oates, paid a simple tribute to his friend. “I hope the brown clay of Ardcarne lies gently on his breast ... Goodbye Sean for the last time,” he said.

Representing President Mary McAleese at yesterday’s service was Aide de Camp Lorraine Fahy while Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was represented by Aide de Camp Commandant Michael Murray.

Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and Government chief whip Tom Kitt also paid their respects as did party strategist PJ Mara and national organiser Sean Sherwin.

Six Government ministers attended including Marine Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern, Finance Minister Brian Cowen, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv and Defence Minister Willie O’Dea. Fianna Fáil TDs Donnie Cassidy, John Ellis, Pat Carey, Martin Brady, John Creegan, Sean Ardagh, John Perry, Peter Kelly, John Moloney, John Dennehy and Michael Finneran were joined by former TD Liam Lawlor.