Cowen honoured to deliver oration at Hillery funeral

TÁNAISTE Brian Cowen has said it was “a great honour” to be asked by the family of the late Patrick Hillery to give the graveside oration at his funeral.

The former president will be buried in St Fintan’s Cemetery in Sutton, Co Dublin, tomorrow alongside his daughter, Vivienne, who died of cancer in 1987 at the age of 18.

Dr Hillery, who died on Saturday morning following a short illness, is survived by his wife, Maeve, and son, John. They requested that Mr Cowen deliver the graveside oration.