FF will block RIC commemoration event, says Ó Cuív
Mr Ó Cuív said he wanted it recorded in the minutes of the committee that reservations he and other members had about a commemoration for the RIC/DMP were first raised last April., said no more State commemorations should be planned until there was a “wide consensus on what is the best way to go forward”.
The Government’s advisory group on commemorations, comprising some of the country’s expert historians, said “consideration should be given to the organisation of specific initiatives to commemorate” the RIC and DMP. Mr Flanagan said he was following the instructions of the group in hosting a commemoration but Prof Ferriter said the proposal for a commemoration did not envisage a State ceremony.
The group’s chairman Dr Maurice Manning said the advice it gave could be interpreted as including a State ceremony, while another member of the advisory body, who did not wished to be named, said it was partially to blame for giving “opaque advice”. A commemoration for some RIC men will go ahead at 11am on January 17th – the same hour as the now postponed service was due to be held.