SÍOCHÁIN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE STARTS WITH SOLOHEADBEG CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM IS LONG OVERDUE AN APPRECIATION JOE WARD (RIP) WINTER 2015 ISSNSpring 1649-5896 2019 www.gardaretired.comISSN 1649-5896 SCAN QR CODE FOR www.gardaretired.com MEMBERS’ AREA EDITORIAL COMMENT LOOKING AFTER THE ‘JOB FOR LIFE’ If Ireland is to thrive as a nation fairness and equity is needed for all regardless of profession past or present, the new National Wage Agreement needs to enshrine the parity provision in the legislation. When serving in An Garda Síochána, members often heard that this job was one for life, but is this really the case wonders GSRMA General Secretary Paschal Feeney. ompulsory retirement age varied as we went through to pay for an aging Cour service. I grew up in a Garda household and while population. I am the compulsory retirement age was 63, the option to not saying when in retire was always there with full pension after 30 years employment we don’t approved service. continue to contribute Those words ‘approved service’ were critical back in to our pensions, that the 1960s and 70s, very seldom was the approved service is a given. However, abridged. Compulsory retirement age was then reduced it’s now over a decade to age 60 with 30 years’ service and then to 57 years, as since retired members always the criteria was with 30 years’ full service. of An Garda Síochána The trend at that time was to reduce the compulsory received any type of retirement age to 55 years. However, life as does lifestyle pension increase. changes. The compulsory age was again increased from On the contrary, 57 years to 60 years for all ranks. As I said lifestyles during that time change, so are we are now looking north to 65. we have had out Physical fitness was always paramount for a policeman pensions cut, we have to do his work effectively. This is extremely important in had pension levies this modern society in which we live. Almost on a daily imposed on us, and basis we hear of yet another murder; another seizure of the myth out there in drugs, our every move as a policeman is being monitored the public mind is that by someone either in officialdom or via social media. we never contributed President Michael D. Higgins’s age As we go through life the question of working beyond to our pensions. came into sharp focus in his re- 65 is a divisive issue, and the question is posed ‘what do The new National they need to work for?’ They are depriving a younger Pay Agreement is fast election recently. person from meaningful employment. As with the radical approaching, 2020 is the year earmarked by Government change in lifestyles we are living longer, expect more to align Public Service Pensions for those who retired and so consider we should work longer. Our President after 29 February 2012. Public Service Pensions Act 2012 Uachtarain Michael D. Higgins’s age came into sharp provided members of the Oireachtas with far greater focus in his re-election recently. enhancements than others within the retired public Why is it acceptable that in some professions age is service. not a hindrance; politicians, judges, doctors, surgeons to This is all wrong! If we are to thrive as a nation we name a few, so why not Gardaí? I mention all of these need fairness and equity for all regardless of profession issues as it is forecast that one quarter of our population past or present. The new National Wage Agreement shall be over 65 years of age in the 2050s. This places needs to restore parity for all and enshrine the parity huge demands on pensions. provision in the legislation. I go back to the start ‘A Job The reality is that we need people in employment for Life’ – but will you still need me when I am 65? Síocháin 1 SÍOCHÁIN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE SOLOHEADBEG AMBUSH PLAYS KEY ROLE CONTENTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM IS LONG OVERDUE The Official Magazine of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association AN APPRECIATION JOE WARD (RIP) WINTER 2015 ISSNSpring 1649-5896 2019 www.gardaretired.comISSN 1649-5896 SCAN QR CODE FOR www.gardaretired.com MEMBERS’ AREA Cover: Police and auxiliaries Spring 2019 take wounded to hospital Volume 48 • Issue 1 • ISSN 1649-5896 after attack on Custom House, Dublin (circa. 1921) Source: National Gallery of Ireland 4 ASSOCIATION NEWS 46 SOLOHEADBEG AMBUSH carrying 803 souls of which 564 The ambush and killing of two perished. RIC members at Soloheadbeg, 26 IN-HOUSE REPORT Co Tipperary on 21 January 1919 started the War of Independence. Donal O’Sullivan, Tralee Branch, 33 AN APPRECIATION says the incident caused horror Joe Ward was first elected to and indignation amongst the represent the Leinster Region at townspeople of Tipperary where Conference 2015, which he served both men had been well known and until his sudden death recently. The liked. GSRMA Editorial Board member, who was a qualified solicitor, also 60 SHORT STORY scored many achievements in the 52 KNOCK SHRINE ‘The Abandoned Rocking Chair’ fields of rugby and football. John Hynes, Chief Steward, outlines by Bridie Brogan (Sligo/Leitrim the range of pilgrimages during Branch), who was the second the year in Knock, now one of the winner of the 2018 GSRMA Short principal Marian Shrines in the Story Competition. world, which has been developed and expanded to cater for such large crowds over the years. And volunteers are now sought to work 67 SECURITY & POLICING as Handmaids and Stewards at Our Reform in the criminal justice Lady’s Shrine in Knock. system has been long overdue, while the significant failures have been felt most strongly by Gardaí who served over many years, writes police and security specialist John O’Brien, member of GSRMA Central 37 GSRMA SOCIAL OUTINGS Committee and Editorial Board. 43 ALLIANCE UPDATE 74 LOOK BACK Further to the ARPS policy to As a young fella growing up in the maintain the existing pay/pension Strawberry Beds by the banks of parity, Joe Dirwan reports on the River Liffey in Dublin, Shay a meeting late last year with Martin, Dublin West Branch, Fianna Fail’s public expenditure 57 ‘RMS LEINSTER’ reflects on an idyllic childhood and spokesperson and economic Edward Ryan, Dun Laoghaire his journey to joining the Force as adviser. He also notes that Branch, recounts the greatest a mechanic before taking to the lobbying will continue with further maritime disaster in the Irish Sea road as driver to the late former meetings to be arranged with other off the Kingstown coast near Kish Taoiseach Charlie Haughey and parties, trade unions and Garda Lighthouse on 10 October 1918, later to Minister Brian Lenihan, representative associations. when the ‘RMS Leinster’ mail boat, during the bail-out. 2 Síocháin CONTENTS 81 GARDA DINNER DANCE blood from a stone may be true, Coming across an old file that but that didn’t worry Portlaoise detailed the work required to man Timmy Gleeson (64) who was GSRMA EDITORIAL run the Tullamore Garda District recently acknowledged by the BOARD Irish Blood Transfusion Service for Dance in the 1950s and seeing the Paschal Feeney donating his 100th pint of blood. names of members long gone from (Editor & General Secretary) this world, Michael Dalton, Offaly Branch, takes us back in time to a MEMORABILIA PAGE forgotten era in An Garda Síochána. 95 98 OBITUARY NOTICES 85 THE STATIONS ‘The Stations’ continue to be of major importance in certain parts 105 ARCHIVE SNAPSHOTS of rural Ireland, during which Billy Saunderson confessions are heard, Mass is celebrated, parish dues are 110 CROSSWORD collected and neighbours come together, writes Pat Lehane, Killarney Branch. 112 IN THE FRAME GARDA REFORM 90 117 MEMBERSHIP FORM Patrick Joseph McCarthy, Dublin North Branch, is amazed by those John O’Brien people who never see the value 121 POETRY CORNER of prevention, and says that major crimes do not happen on impulse but are planned and never without 124 BULLETIN BOARD local input. 127 NOTICEBOARD 94 HEALTH & WELLBEING The old saying that you cannot get Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association, GSRMA House, 5 Harrington Street, SÍOCHÁIN is published by Ocean Publishing, 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6785165; Dublin 8. Email: [email protected] Website: www.oceanpublishing.ie Tel: 01-4781525 Managing Director: Patrick Aylward In-House Editor: Grace Heneghan Fax: 01-4785127 In-House Designer: Catherine Doyle Email: [email protected] PRESS CONCIL OF IRELAND Website: www.gardaretired.com SIOCHAIN is a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports the office of the Press Ombandsman. In addition to defending the freedom of the press, the scheme offers readers a quick, fair and free method of dealing with complaints that they may have in relation to articles that appear on our pages. To contact the office of the Press Ombudsman visit www.pressombudsman.ie or www.presscouncil.ie or LoCall 1890 208 080. YOU CAN ALSO The views expressed in SIOCHAIN, unless expressly stated, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, the FOLLOW US ON Editorial Board, the GSRMA, Ocean Publishing, the Garda Commissioner or An Garda Síochána. Opinions expressed Facebook www.facebook.com/GardaRetired by the authors and services offered by advertisers are not specifically endorsed by the GSRMA. All rights reserved. Twitter www.twitter.com/GardaRetired No part of SIOCHAIN may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission from the Editorial Board and the Publisher. Copyright © 2018 Ocean Publishing Síocháin 3 ASSOCIATION NEWS ATHLONE BRANCH Pictured at the Athlone Branch AGM on 12 February in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel: Front Row (l-r): Mick Tomas, Paschal Feeney, Gen Sec., Noel Dowd, Mick Egan, Jean Down, Karen Dowd, John Hickey and Dympna Ryan.