McEntee death 'an irreparable loss'

The funeral of Minster of State Shane McEntee has heard how he was burdened with thoughtfulness for others.

Thousands of mourners have gathered in Nobber in Co Meath to pay their final respects to the Meath East Deputy.

The 56-year-old died on Friday morning. He is survived by his wife, four children and two grand children.

Fr Michael Sheerin told the packed church of the irreparable loss shared by Deputy McEntee's family, neighbours and colleagues in farming, business and the political world, critics and opponents.

In his homily, he said if love could have kept him alive it would still be with us.

He spoke of a man bubbling with life laughter, unsparing in his generosity.

Fr Sheerin said that Deputy McEntee was a deeply sensitive man and he said many are surely now thinking he was too sensitive and had too many concerns.

He said he entered the cauldron of political life with his eyes open to the challenges and could not have foreseen that other cauldron in his mind.

Deputy McEntee will be laid to rest in Nobber cemetery where the Taoiseach will deliver the graveside oration.

Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said that the news of Minister McEntee's death hit his Fine Gael colleagues very hard.

"Because they were beside him over the last number of weeks … I can assure that if they thought what he was going through, there would have been an avalanche of help towards him," he said.

"But unfortunately nobody knew exactly what was going on in Shane's mind."