A nephew who brought his uncle's body to the post office after he had died has carried his coffin at his funeral.
Declan Haughney, 40, and another man brought Peadar Doyle, 66, to the post office to collect his pension on Friday, "not realising" he had died.
During the funeral service on Monday, priest Fr Thomas Little said “no one should ever point a finger” after what happened, the Irish Mirror reports.
The emotional service brought together Peadar's family at the Church of the Holy Family in Co Carlow.
Declan was seen carrying his uncle's coffin as Peadar’s niece, Charmaine gave a speech about how he was “a hero” and “like a father” to her and others.
She said: “Peadar treated each and every one of his nieces and nephews as if we were his own children – and he was like a second father to us all.”
Charmaine added: “Peadar’s positivity was contagious. He was witty and had a great memory of quotes from classical movies, literature and poetry.”
She told how Peadar was a "perfectionist” and a great cook, cleaner, had worked as a caretaker and a waiter.
He was also an exceptional painter, she said.
She said her uncle “made you feel cared for, special and loved in a way no one else could”.
She added: “Peadar was a quiet man who was always proud of and devoted to his family. In public, he was dignified and polite – kind and cheerful to everyone he met.
“To him, loving and caring for his family and making so many memories with them was what was most important to him.”
Charmaine ended her eulogy by saying her uncle was someone whose greatness wasn’t known to many, but to those closest to him, he was their everything.
She added: “He has made a monumental impression on our hearts and on our souls. His heart was bigger than himself and I’m so lucky to have had such a teacher in my life.”
A Garda investigation into the circumstances of the events surrounding Peadar’s death and his escorted walk remains active – though no one has been arrested.
Declan previously told the Irish Mirror how he was branded a “murderer” in the local community ever since the sensational story emerged.
But he insisted he’s “not an eejit” – and believes he’s being accused of dragging his dead uncle into a post office to rob his pension because he previously stole from his aunt.
He said: “Why would I want to rob my uncle? I’m 40 years of age yeah, I’m not a child, I’m not a young fella.
"I’m not an eejit to walk into Hoseys with a dead man and collect his money. Am I cuckoo? Am I cuckoo? I’m not.”
The priest added: “I would like to say too that I was deeply saddened and shocked at the way that his untimely and sad death has been portrayed.
“It wasn’t fair to you as a family, it wasn’t fair to Peadar and it was so wrong to have done such a thing.
“Nobody should ever point a finger at anybody because as Peadar would say to you if you point a finger at somebody, you know there are three fingers pointing back to you.”
The priest continued: “We know that and I know that too and it’s very hurtful and I’m just sorry for the family for that to have happened.
“It shouldn’t have happened, but I will say this too – it was uplifting to see the number of people that turned out yesterday in the quiet and gentle way to light their candle on the street where he lived.
“It shows that goodness always wins out in the long run. Peadar was bigger and better than all the criticism and the horrible things that were said.
“He was far bigger than any of that and I do deeply believe he is with his God, to be reunited with his family, his brothers, his father and mother and those that have gone before him.”
Garda Superintendent Aidan Brennan, who is leading the investigation, said they want to “establish when exactly Mr Doyle died”.
Supt Brennan told KCLR FM that gardai have spoken with the men who brought Mr Doyle to the post office and received “good co-operation” from them.
