CHIEF JUSTICE SUSAN Denham has called the death of High Court judge Kevin Feeney “a great loss to the State”.

Speaking on the morning of his funeral, she said his qualities were many, including a “profound intellect, a unique skill and courteousness in relating to people and a wonderfully wicked wit”.

“He will be greatly missed by his judicial colleagues,” she continued. “His untimely death, at the height of his professional prowess, has deprived the State of a great judge – a man of huge talent and ability.”

Feeney, who became a High Court judge in 2006, died suddenly while on holiday in Ballycotton, county Cork last week.

Denham also noted the Dublin native’s extra contributions to the State, public and community.

“He chaired the Referendum Commission on the Fiscal Stability Treaty. He was a member of the board of the Courts Service, its finance committee, and he chaired its building committee.

“He had already served and volunteered on a legion of committees and councils around the legal profession from a young age. In this area of public service he also brought a warmth, a sense of fairness, and a lightness of approach, which acted as a balance to the sometimes challenging atmosphere of meeting rooms.”

The deceased is survived by his wife Geraldine and their children. He will be buried at Glasnevin Cemetery after a funeral mass in Donnybrook this morning.

Read: High Court judge Mr Justice Kevin Feeney dies suddenly aged 61