Ann Widdecombe was “formidable, forthright and fierce” but also humble and had a great sense of humour, a Mass in memory of the late British politician has been told. Widdecombe (78), a former MP for the Conservative Party and an MEP for Reform, died last week after a violent incident in her Devon home. British counter terrorist police have said she died in a brutal, and targeted, attack. A 28-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody. In a short eulogy at the end of the Mass at St Teresa’s church on Clarendon Street in Dublin, Senator Rónán Mullen told the congregation that Widdecombe was a person of deep Catholic faith. Police outside the house of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor following her death. Photograph: PA Mullen said that much like her close friend David Amess – the Conservative MP killed by an attacker while meeting constituents in 2021 – her ideas in politics might not have been to the taste of everybody in Ireland for both were “champions of the unborn”, and also committed to animal welfare. [ Why was Ann Widdecombe murdered?Opens in new window ]“It is too early to say what exactly was the cause of her death but it is beginning to look like her political views and her moral values may have been part of the motivation behind the dreadful action,” he said. The Mass was organised by Mullen, who had invited Widdecombe to Ireland to speak at anti abortion events on a number of occasions. It was also attended by a number of Oireachtas members including Ministers of State Frank Feighan and Noel Grealish; Seán Crowe TD; Gillian Toole TD; senators Sarah O’Reilly and Joe O’Reilly; retired diplomat Philip McDonagh, who had raised human rights concerns relating to Irish prisoners in British jails with Widdecombe while she was prisons minister; as well as homeless rights campaigner Alice Leahy. The chief celebrant of the Mass was Fr Vincent O’Hara.