Burrell ‘brings disgrace to butler tradition’
Gerard Whelan, from Bruff, Co Limerick, worked as a butler for ambassadors, aristocrats and generals in various great houses in this country for 40 years.
Mr Whelan, 64, who now lives at Clarina, Co Limerick, said Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell has been a huge embarrassment to those who have worked as butlers.
Mr Whelan said: “I think Mr Burrell has behaved in a disgusting and rather revolting way.
“The fellow is not a butler. Butlers know that discretion is a golden rule.”
Mr Whelan has kept a journal of his years as a butler and may write a book.
He said: “I have arthritis and it may be difficult.”
If he does put pen to paper, he says, no secrets will be told.
He is still bound by the British Official Secrets Act, having worked as butler to the British Ambassador in Dublin for three years from 1969 to 1971.
Mr Whelan said: “I liked the ambassador Sir John Peck. He held a lot of parties at the official residence Glencairn and we had members of the diplomatic corps and cardinals and leading politicians.
“I would greet guests and announce them. Part of my duties was to do the seating arrangements and I had to be careful not to seat people who did not get on near one another for dinner.”
As the troubles in the North erupted at that time, security was put in place for all embassy staff.
Mr Whelan said: “When I’d go in to Dublin from Sandyford I would be accompanied by a Special Branch detective.”
Working as butler he was always formally dressed.
“Morning suit with pin striped trousers in the morning and black tie at evening,” he said.
As butler, Mr Whelan was in charge of the kitchen and other household staff.
Mr Whelan started out as a butler after being invited to work at the home of the Dowager Lady Dunraven in Adare.
He said: “I was working as buyer for Cannocks, the big department store in Limerick and dealt with Lady Dunraven and knew her chauffeur, Dick Lyons. She asked me to go to work at her home at Kilgobbin, Adare as an assistant to the butler, Johnny Ruttle.
“That was in 1968 and Johnny taught me the ropes as he worked as a butler at Kilgobbin House for over 35 years.”
After a year there, he got an offer of a post as butler at the resident of the British Ambassador.
He later worked as a butler to the Galway Blazers huntswomen, Lady Cusack Smith, retired diplomat Sir Denis Cochran of the Cantrell and Cochran drinks family, and Major General Desmond Lambert.
Mr Whelan said: “The general was a nice chap if a bit erratic.”
He said: “A butler must be loyal and honest. And he must also be able to anticipate little hiccups when guests are being entertained. But discretion is a must.”
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