Funeral in Kerry of former Supreme Court judge Hugh O'Flaherty told how ‘compassion’ guided his work

By Anna Zacharias, The Kerryman

Former Supreme Court judge Hugh O’Flaherty was remembered at his funeral Mass, in Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross in Cahersiveen on Friday morning, as a man of humility and quiet faith

He died peacefully at his home in Cahersiveen at the age of 88 on Wednesday.

Father John Aherne, told the congregation that his friend embodied the best qualities of his uncle, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, the famous priest who saved more than 6,500 Jews and soldiers during World War II.

“His faith was never something he wore for display,” said Fr Aherne. “It was quiet, sincere and deeply rooted.”

While Mr O’Flaherty was lauded for his mark on the law, the priest told the congregation how the judge had discretely helped others and never allowed success to replace God.

“Real generosity seeks no applause,” he said. “The greatest acts of kindness are often known only to God.”

On a table near the altar, Mr O’Flaherty’s grandchildren placed five objects representing his life.

These included his book, Justice, Liberty and The Courts, and a copy of The Irish Times for his love of journalism and work as a sub-editor at the Irish Press newspaper.

Other symbols included an All-Ireland final programme, a token of Cuas Crom beach, and a photo with his beloved late wife, Kathleen.

The hearse carrying the remains of Hugh O’Flaherty begins its journey from Cahersiveen for burial at Sandymount, Dublin on Saturday morning. © Christy Riordan

His children read from the Book of Ecclesiastes and Corinthians, the same readings heard at her funeral Mass in 2017. They were married more than 50 years.

“It reminds us that although death separated them for a time, our Christian faith tells us that love is stronger than death,” said Father Tom Looney.

He noted Mr O’Flaherty’s rise from St Brendan’s College in Killarney to University College Dublin and the Supreme Court.

“These achievements deserve admiration, but they never defined Hugh,” said Fr Looney.

Instead, he noted: “We remember a man of deep faith, a devoted family man, someone who prayed quietly.”

He told the congregation he met Mr O’Flaherty at his home in An Rinn Aird on Tuesday evening.

“He was very weak indeed, and yet he was still himself,” said the priest. “We spent some time chatting, not about his distinguished career or his illness, but about ordinary things.”

This included Mr O’Flaherty’s happiness for Mayo’s All-Ireland win over his home county.

“That was Hugh,” said Fr Looney. “He was happy to rejoice in someone else’s joy.”

In a steady voice, Mr O’Flaherty’s son Hugh delivered the eulogy.

He described his father’s lifelong love of politics, sparked as a child when he hid under a stage listening to Éamon De Valera delivering a speech in Cahersiveen.

He told mourners how Mr O’Flaherty moved to the town from Killarney to live with his aunt Bríd after his mother passed away.

“It’s fitting that his passing happened in Kerry, in a place he loved so much, amongst the people,” said his son.

He remembered how his father always kept an eye on the tide clock to catch high tide at Cuas Crom, his father’s golfing books and his encyclopaedic knowledge of Kerry football.

“He loved Kerry people and if they happened to be good footballers, he loved them even more.”

It was his aunt who encouraged Mr O’Flaherty to pursue law. He was called to the Bar in 1959, made senior counsel in 1976 and appointed directly to the Supreme Court in 1990.

Mr O’Flaherty taught his son the best advocacy was often to say nothing.

“He always approached law through the prism of compassion and justice,” Hugh said. “He brought a compassion to the bench, which wasn’t always appreciated by the most strict law.”

Referencing his father’s early resignation in 1999 amid controversy in the Philip Sheedy case, he said: “He did feel he was harshly treated. The tragedy, I think, is that his great mind was lost to the legal world at such a young age.”

He remembered his father as a man of outstanding intellect and judgement, not the least in his choice of a wife. They met when Mr O’Flaherty was a patient at the Mater Hospital, where Kathleen was a nurse.

“He was a champion to women,” said Mr O’Flaherty’s daughter, Catherine Coyle. “But then again, he had Kathleen as his wife.”

He was also, she said, a devoted friend and her ‘best pal’.

“His world had gotten smaller but his big heart and his joy of friendship always remained the same,” she said.

Women sang The Minstrel Boy and The Boys of Barr na Sráide as mourners gathered to sympathise with the grieving family.

By 11.30am, the candles above the altar were extinguished, and the procession had begun its journey up the winding coast of the Iveragh Peninsula all the way to Dublin.

It is expected to arrive at The Star of the Sea Church, Sandymount, Dublin at 7pm. A Mass will take place at 10am on Saturday, followed by burial in Kilternan Cemetery.