Crowds pay their respects to army chief

HUGE crowds queued for up to three hours to pay their respects to the former Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, as his coffin lay in the garrison church at the Curragh yesterday.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen attended St Brigid’s Church at the Curragh earlier in the day, while President Mary McAleese attended the removal of Lt Gen Earley’s body to the Saint Conleth’s Church in Newbridge. Minister for Defence Tony Killeen was also present.

The 62-year-old soldier retired from the Defence Forces earlier this month.

He had been Chief of Staff for the last three years and died on Wednesday.

He was succeeded as Chief of Staff by Lieutenant General Seán McCann.

Many GAA supporters lined the streets of Newbridge as the hearse made its way through the town, marking the passing of one of the greatest GAA players who never won an All-Ireland final. A winner of two GAA All-Star awards, Earley played with Roscommon for 20 years and later managed Kildare.

His remains were received at the St Conleth’s Church by the Parish Priest of Newbridge, Fr Joe McDermot, and the head chaplain of the Defence Forces Monsignor Eoin Thynne.

Lt Gen Earley is survived by his mother Kitty, his wife Mary and their six children David, Dermot, Conor, Paula, Ann-Marie and Noelle.

Dermot, his son, plays with Kildare and has also won two All-Stars and his daughter Noelle is also an All-Star.

Their father’s requiem Mass will take place at 11am today and he will be buried with full military honours.