Sir, – Political Editor Stephen Collins (Opinion, August 24th) indicated representatives of both the Government and an Garda Síochána will be in attendance at today’s commemoration to honour those Royal Irish Constabulary/Dublin Metropolitan Police members killed opposing the fight for Irish independence. Surely this is taking political ecumenism a step too far? How can one honour the RIC without also honouring the Black and Tans who were an integral element of policing in Ireland during the 1919-1922 period?
The standards, ethos and policing values of An Garda Síochána are anathema and repugnant to what the RIC and Black and Tans stood for and should not be compromised for political expediency. Have we forgotten that it was the Royal Irish Constabulary who fired indiscriminately into the crowd in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday in 1920 killing 14 innocent spectators and players? These were the armed colonial police force tasked with enforcing British rule in Ireland despite the massive rejection of this rule by the electorate in the 1918 general election. – Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER,
Delaford Lawn,
Knocklyon, Dublin 16.
Sir, – My grandfather joined the RIC as a constable, and despite being a Roman Catholic rose to become a district inspector. According to a book written by Senator John Gilroy, when he was stationed in Lisnaskea he cracked loyalist and nationalist heads with complete impartiality.
On reading the recently released military archives, I found that when my grandfather was transferred to Trim he was ordered to make room for a detachment of Black and Tans, but he refused, saying he was perfectly able to defend Trim on his own.
It would appear from his diaries that he considered himself at all times a policeman whose job it was to keep law and order as it existed at that time. – Yours, etc,
DAVID MURNANE,
Dunshaughlin, Co Meath.