Family and political leaders honour David Andrews’ peace and humanitarian legacy

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Former foreign affairs minister David Andrews has been remembered for his contributions to peace and humanitarian efforts during his funeral service in Co Dublin.

Barry Andrews, Mr Andrews’ son and Fianna Fáil MEP, gave a eulogy speaking of his father’s love for his family and wife, and their “enormous pride” in his political career.

Current and former Fianna Fáil politicians were among the hundreds who attended a funeral service at St John the Baptist Church, Blackrock, on Saturday after his death at the age of 91.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien were present.

Also in attendance was former president Michael D Higgins, who worked alongside Mr Andrews for decades on humanitarian issues and celebrated his 90th birthday at Áras an Uachtaráin during his presidency.

Mr Andrews was first elected as a TD in 1965 in the Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown constituency in Co Dublin.

He became a junior minister in 1970 but remained a backbencher during Charles Haughey’s tenure as taoiseach, during which Mr Andrews was an open critic.

Under Albert Reynolds, Mr Andrews joined the cabinet, becoming minister for foreign affairs, a position he would return to in 1997 during the negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

Mr Andrews was one of four signatories to the 1998 agreement, alongside Mr Ahern, UK prime minister Tony Blair and Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam.

A signed copy of the peace deal was among the items brought to the altar to commemorate his life.

In his eulogy to his father, Barry Andrews said: “If he did nothing else in his career that was enough to cement a lasting legacy – and he did much else.”

He referred to Mr Andrews’ campaign for justice for the Guildford Four, helping to secure a seat for Ireland at the United Nations Security Council and the development of social housing in his constituency.

His son said: “Many people commented over the last few days about his empathy, something that he had in abundance, a feeling for the suffering of others.

“It informed his sense of the injustice of Irish prisoners in English jails. Of course, there were limits to his well of empathy.

“He called me after I lost my seat in the Dáil in 2011. I said it’d been a very tough election, which he agreed too.

“I said that a lot of people had lost their seats and he agreed.

“I said that Dún Laoghaire was a very tough constituency. He agreed and I said nobody could have won that seat for Fianna Fáil in Dún Laoghaire.

“There was a pause. ‘Well’, he said, ‘I’m not so sure about that’. But this way, as a family, we kept each other grounded.”

Despite his love for politics, Barry said Mr Andrews’ “main passion in life was for his family” and his nine grandchildren.

Barry also paid tribute to Annette Andrews, his mother, who he said was the “driving force” behind his father’s electoral success.

“She would say that she didn’t like to take all the credit for building his success, she was merely the brains behind it,” he said.

“But after all the noise and dynamism of professional life died down, and all the ups and downs of married life, they developed an incredible bond that lasted years.

“She, and we, will miss him terribly.”