Sir, - Kevin Myers's "An Irishman's Diary" of October 9th last shows a biased and subjective view of Irish history. That Countess Markievicz murdered an unarmed policeman in Stephen's Green is a myth which thousands of Irish people have grown up believing; however I would have expected more from an Irish Times journalist.
PC Lahiff, the unfortunate man in question, was shot within five minutes of the occupation of the Green, according to one of the few accounts which mentions the incident, Max Caulfield's The Easter Rebellion, and to the Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook. If this was the case, Constance could not have shot him. She did not march to the Green with Michael Mall in and the Citizen Army contingent. Instead, she and Dr Kathleen Lynn, after seeing the companies march from Liberty Hall, drove off in a car packed with medical supplies.
They unloaded part of the supplies at City Hall at 12 noon the time at which PC Lahiff was allegedly shot. Dr Lynn remained at City Hall, while Constance drove to Stephen's Green with the rest of the supplies. The Abbey actress Maire Ni Shaibhlaigh saw her go past, and shouted her encouragement. By the time Constance arrived, the rebels had gained control of the Green, and at this stage PC Lahiff could not have tried to prevent Constance entering it.
No mention of the murder of PC Lahiff was made at the court martial of Countess Markievicz by the British, which would be astonishing if she was responsible. In fact, there is no evidence to support claims that she shot him. This story seems to have been perpetuated as a result of the general hostility to the participation of women in battle and the outrage at the killing of an unarmed man. - Yours, etc.,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.