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Politicians attend Declan Costello's funeral

Costello funeral - Described as one of the great legal minds of Ireland in the homily
Costello funeral - Described as one of the great legal minds of Ireland in the homily

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Chief Justice John L Murray were among the mourners at the funeral this morning of former judge and politician Declan Costello.

Mr Costello was described as 'a great Christian who ... offered us a new vision of living'.

During his career, he served as Attorney General and President of the High Court and developed Fine Gael's 'Just Society' policy in the 1960s.

In his homily, Monsignor Richard Sherry said Mr Costello was one of the great legal minds of Ireland, as well as a great family man, and a Christian thinker moulded by the insights of the Second Vatican Council.

The chief mourners were Mr Costello's widow Joan, and their children and grandchildren.

Also among attending were former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, and former politicians Richie Ryan, Des O'Malley, Michael O'Kennedy, Nora Owen and Mary Banotti.

Current Attorney General Máire Whelan attended, as did her predecessors Peter Sutherland, John Rodgers and Michael McDowell.

President of the High Court Nicholas Kearns and his predecessor Ricky Johnson were there, along with former Chief Justice Ronan Keane and President of the Human Rights Commission Maurice Manning.

Serving politicians in attendance included local TDs Lucinda Creighton and Eoghan Murphy, also Senators Paul Coghlan and Rónán Mullen.