A LARGE number of friends and colleagues yesterday attended the funeral of former Fianna Fáil county councillor Seán (John) Gilbride, who had faced planning corruption charges.
St Patrick’s Church in Skerries, north Dublin, was full to overflowing for the funeral of Mr Gilbride (69), who died on New Year’s Day. The congregation heard tributes to Mr Gilbride’s roles as a family man, teacher and public representative.
Celebrant Fr Richard Hyland described Mr Gilbride as a good man and a kind, loving husband and father. He said many people had told him in recent weeks of the goodness done by Mr Gilbride and this was the yardstick by which any person should be judged.
Mr Gilbride’s son Shaun recalled his father’s long career in teaching, which began in Balbriggan in 1972 and ended with his retirement as a principal in 2005. He also recalled his involvement in drug awareness campaigns, Fingal County Council and vocational education committees.
Late in life, Mr Gilbride developed an enthusiasm for cricket, he said; members of the Hills cricket club in Skerries walked with the hearse from the home of the deceased to the church.
Among those present were Fianna Fáil TDs Darragh O’Brien, Charlie O’Connor and Michael Kennedy, former senator GV Wright and former councillors Cathal Boland and Colm McGrath.
From Sligo, Mr Gilbride was elected to Dublin County Council in 1985 and re-elected in 1991. He failed on two occasions to be elected to the Dáil and was unsuccessful in a Seanad election.
Last October, Mr Gilbride was charged with accepting money to vote for rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in south Dublin. He pleaded not guilty.
He allegedly received a sum at the offices of former government press secretary and lobbyist Frank Dunlop on June 11th, 1992, as an inducement to or as a reward for voting in favour of rezoning 108 acres of land in Carrickmines.
In November, he was remanded on bail in his absence after Dublin District Court heard he could not be served with the book of evidence as he was in Beaumont hospital. He was due to be tried later this year in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The 2000 Fianna Fáil report on payments to politicians found that he received £16,500 from three sources between 1991 and 1997. He said he never asked for anything, or sought any inducement for his vote.
Mr Gilbride is survived by his wife Mary and sons Shaun, David, Keith and Diarmuid.
