IRELAND'S FIRST ombudsman and former Irish Presspolitical correspondent Michael Mills "made a deep impression on public life", mourners at his removal service were told.
Fr Karl Fortune, curate at St Pius X Church in Templeogue, Dublin, said Mr Mills, a long-time parishioner of the church, was deeply committed to his work, a family man who also loved sport, art and politics.
Mr Mills died, aged 80, on Sunday after a short illness and just four days after he and his wife Bríd celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Hundreds were in the congregation as the remains were received by Fr Fortune; Bishop Éamon Walsh of Dublin; family friend Fr John Hannon; and Fr Frank Molloy and Fr John Flavin from Templeogue College.
Bishop Walsh said Mr Mills had worked for a paper whose motto The Truth in the Newswas sometimes aspirational "but not for Michael Mills - it was the very air he breathed".
Dr Walsh, who served with Mr Mills on the board of Veritas, said he embodied the beatitudes "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness" and "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake".
He added that Michael's "goodness will live on even as the flowers wilt".
Mr Mills's son Kieran, who read a passage from his father's memoir Hurler on the Ditch, spoke of his father's lifelong interest in politics and said that he analysed the papers every morning. "He greatly missed his good friend the late Dick Walsh of The Irish Times," with whom he regularly analysed the news and politics, a role more recently taken over by journalist Jill Kirby.
He said his father loved the tribunals. "He was a tribunal junkie." He could often be found at the computer at 4am reading over the transcripts from the day before, his son said.
Mr Mills, who had attended his parents' 50th anniversary lunch celebration, said the family was very proud of their father for many things, including being the first ombudsman and for the courage he displayed in protecting the office of ombudsman when other forces undermined it. "Overall he had a fantastic life" with great jobs, a loving marriage and eight children.
He also played golf and his favourite fourball had included former president Patrick Hillery. Mr Mills said his father spoke on Saturday of going to Dr Hillery's funeral. "Dad you're with him now and can talk to him all about the political goings on."
Mourners included Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív; Minister of State Conor Lenihan; Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny; Labour leader Éamon Gilmore; former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte; Press Ombudsman John Horgan; Prof Tom Garvin of UCD; broadcaster and academic Brian Farrell; Irish NUJ secretary Séamus Dooley; former Dublin city manager Frank Fehily, former Evening Presseditor Seán Ward; former Sunday Presseditor Michael Keane; Éamon de Valera of Irish PressLtd and former government press officer Bart Cronin.
Journalists and former colleagues at the service also included Geraldine Kennedy, Editor of The Irish Times; Seán Duignan; Seán O'Rourke of RTÉ; Paul Murray; Conor O'Clery; Joe O'Malley; Chris Glennon and Noeleen Dowling.
Mr Mills is survived by his wife Bríd, daughters Frances, Pauline, Veronica and Stephanie; sons Gerald, Kieran, Liam and Michael, his sisters Phil and Áine.
Requiem Mass at 10am today is followed by burial at Kilmashogue Cemetery.
