Ben Dunne’s funeral to take place this Tuesday
LEGENDARY businessman Ben Dunne – who died suddenly last week while holidaying in Dubai – will be buried on Tuesday, his family announced yesterday.
The former supermarket and gym magnate will be laid to rest following Mass at his local parish church in west Dublin.
The 74-year-old father of four died while on a golf trip to Dubai with relatives and friends.
His son Mark was among those who were with the business tycoon when he suffered a massive heart attack on the trip.
It is understood that Ben’s once estranged sister Margaret Heffernan was also holidaying with her younger brother when he died.
The pair had a high-profile fallingout as a result of the businessman becoming embroiled in a headlinemaking cocaine-fuelled binge with a prostitute at a Florida hotel. Margaret subsequently replaced her brother as head of the family supermarket business, Dunnes Stores.
But after a bitter legal battle, the siblings eventually reconciled and resolved their differences.
A friend told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Ben went over to see the golf at the DP World Tour Championship held in the Jumeirah Golf Estates resort.
‘He was there with his son Mark. Margaret was over in Dubai as well and she came home last Sunday night as planned.’
In his death notice on RIP.ie yesterday, the businessman was described as the ‘beloved husband of Mary and dear father of Mark, Robert, Caroline and Nicholas and beloved grandfather of Ben, Katie, Pearl and Joseph’.
It continued: ‘Sadly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughter, grandchildren, sisters Margaret and Ann, extended family, relatives and a large circle of friends.’
Mr Dunne’s funeral Mass will take place at St Mochta’s Church, Porterstown, Clonsilla, on Tuesday.
His family asked that, rather than sending flowers, people make a donation to their charity of choice.
Among those who posted messages of condolences last night was a customer who wrote: ‘A true gentleman that looked out for the worker.
‘Thank you Ben. You will not be forgotten. They don’t make them like you anymore. You were fair and square and gave so much to Ireland.
‘God bless you and your loving family as they bid a sad goodbye to you.
‘Rest in peace Mr Dunne.’