Madam, - Frank Bouchier-Hayes (April 23rd) gives us an interesting and unexpected view of an incident in the life of the pioneer aviator James Fitzmaurice. The spectacle of prisoners between cruelly beaten is not an edifying one, but Mr Bouchier-Hayes should probably have taken some other facts into consideration.
The Dublin Guards had a reputation as a tough bunch that showed little mercy to prisoners (Michael Hopkinson, Green against Green, Gill and Macmillan, 1988, page 205). A "mass resignation" because of the incident described was highly unlikely. There was, however, considerable resentment against ex-British officers serving in the Irish Army, of whom Fitzmaurice was one.
Besides, what if the incident was true? Should it necessarily detract from the portrait of Fitzmaurice as a hero? Both Mohandas Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln are said to have had violent physical altercations with their wives in early married life. I think we consider their later achievements to be more than adequate redemption for brief moments of folly.
The case is similar for Fitzmaurice. He did the infant State some service both in time of Civil War and by early leadership in the Irish Air Corps. An outstanding act of physical courage brought glory to his country and his service. A shadowy incident in his early career does not detract significantly from the honour of his achievements. - Yours, etc.,
TOBY JOYCE, Navan, Co Meath.