The Irish government was concerned about international media coverage of vandalism at a Jewish cemetery in Limerick in 1995, newly released records show.
The attack - in which a swastika was painted in front of the cemetery gate and part of a wall was knocked down, amid other damage - happened shortly after a visit to Limerick by Israel’s then-ambassador to Ireland Zvi Gabay.
An article about the incident was published in The Jewish Chronicle newspaper in the UK on September 1st 1995.
The article mentioned the fact that Limerick was the focus of a major anti-Semitic attack in the early 20th Century when Jewish shops were boycotted and an anti-Jewish riot took place in the city in 1904.
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Avi Winchester, author of the article, wrote to Irish press officers in 1995 at the UK embassy, seeking to know any “further developments” about the Limerick cemetery attack.
Press officers at the embassy contacted the department of foreign affairs for an update on the incident.
“I believe Mr Winchester spoke to (Limerick) Mayor (Jim) Kemmy recently,” Cliona Manahan Leslie wrote, seeking any additional details the department had.
It was confirmed that, under an agreement between Limerick and Ireland’s then-chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the cemetery grounds would be placed under the auspices of Limerick City Council.
The Limerick attack occurred shortly after the government had approved an IR£10,000 grant to support the Irish Jewish Museum in Portobello, Dublin.
The museum had requested copies of government documents related to Ireland accepting Jewish refugees before and after the second World War, records show.
In a department of foreign affairs document dated August 1995, James Brennan wrote to the department of the taoiseach to say that officials were in favour of any such files being released.
“The department’s general attitude to the question of the release of archives is positive and we are anxious to ensure that our past good record in this area be maintained and even improved upon in the context of the proposed archive legislation.”
The letter said a number of relevant documents had been located and searches were underway for others.
