Statesman’s final journey begins

SENATOR Edward Kennedy’s body was taken to Boston last night to lie in repose at his murdered brother’s presidential library for two days of public visits.

The motorcade carrying the statesman’s body and family members departed from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port for the 110km trip to the state capital.

The flag-draped casket was loaded into a hearse after a private Mass in the home.

Relatives took turns touching the hearse as they passed it on the way to their cars.

Hundreds of people lined the route of the motorcade, which will end at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. His body will lie in repose there for two days.

Sen Kennedy is to be buried tomorrow at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, near Washington DC.

The late senator’s loved ones, including niece Caroline, daughter of former president John F Kennedy, and son Patrick, a US congressman, arrived for the private Mass.

Shortly before the motorcade left, clapping could be heard in the house and family members emerged on to the porch, some holding hands, others talking and laughing.

Ted Kennedy III, the senator’s young grandson, walked to the driveway, tossing his long blond hair out of his eyes.

As the motorcade left, Patrick Kennedy sat in the passenger seat of the hearse, near tears.

The motorcade passed the hundreds of people lining the route and was to go by sites important to the senator on the way to the library, which he helped develop and where he will lie in repose, a senate office statement said.

Trudy Murray, 86, originally from Ireland, said Ted Kennedy helped her and her family get visas when they moved to the US in 1969.

“I loved Ted Kennedy. I cried yesterday when I put on the TV and saw that he had passed away,” said Murray, a retired nurse who now lives in Brockton.

“He made his mistakes, but I don’t even want to hear them.

“I forgive all of them because he was such a good man.”

Plans are being finalised for a private memorial service at the presidential library tonight and for the funeral Mass tomorrow morning at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston’s Mission Hill neighbourhood.

US President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at the funeral.

All of the living former presidents are expected to attend the funeral.

Shortly before the Mass, 44 sitting senators and 10 former senators will be among a group of about 100 dignitaries paying their respects at the library.