Cowen leads tributes to ‘modern Republican’

The late John O’Leary had been “a true modern Republican” and the sort of man Fianna Fáil needed more of as they sought to rebuild and re-enter Government, former taoiseach Brian Cowen said yesterday.

“He’s the sort of man we need to see in abundance in our own party,” Mr Cowen said.

Along with many past and present members of Leinster House, Mr Cowen attended the funeral in Killarney of the former Kerry South TD.