SÍOCHÁIN The Official Magazine of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association The Official Magazine of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association REPEAL FEMPI NOW! GSRMA MEMBERS JOIN FORCES IN AGSI PROTEST Summer 2016 WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 ISSNISSN 1649-5896 ISSN 1649-5896 www.gardaretired.com www.gardaretired.com EDITORIAL REPEAL FEMPI NOW! GSRMA is now calling on members to collectively interact with all the newly-elected 158 TDs to remind them of the huge sacrifices Gardaí have made in restoring this country back into solvency. t long last after the long anticipated General Election, Awe have a result of sorts, and likewise a Government of sorts. Already the predictions are that it will not last the full term of office. Regardless of this we have the people we elected into power, and they have reluctantly come together to govern the nation. The primary aims of the GSRMA remain the same — the complete restoration of our pensions to pre-2009 levels, the realignment of pensions for those who retired after 28 February 2012 and the abolition of the much- dreaded Universal Social Charge. Within the new Dáil we have 158 elected TDs, some, not all, gave us the electorate, commitments in seeking election that all public service pensions would be restored as soon as possible. The soon-as-possible time has arrived! Prior to 30 June the new Dáil must review the various Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Paschal Feeney, GSRMA General Secretary, congratulates AGSI (FEMPI) Acts 2009 to 2015. “Before 30 June in 2010 and members during their recent demonstration at the gates of Dáil Eireann every year after 2010, the Minister shall: (a) Carry out a to protest about pay and pension-cuts for serving and retired Gardaí. review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of this A number of GSRMA members joined over 500 AGSI members at the Act, having regard to the overall economic conditions protest. in the State and national competitiveness, (b) Consider The former Minister for Public Sector Reform, Brendan whether or not any of the provisions of this Act continue Howlin TD, now leader of the Labour Party, has advocated to be necessary having regard to the purposes of this Act, for the past five years that caution must be exercised in the overall economic conditions in the State, national relation to public sector pay, but in particular to public competitiveness and Exchequer commitments in respect sector pensions. of public service pensions, (c) Make such findings as he/ He has repeatedly stated since Budget 2016 was she thinks appropriate, consequent on such review and passed last October that there would be a gradual consideration, and (d) Cause a written report of his/her restoration to pay and pension rights up to 2019, and findings resulting from the review and consideration to be indeed beyond. Mr Howlin is no longer in government. prepared and laid before each House of the Oireachtas”. And interestingly, having left the Department of Public Sector Reform, one of his first public comments was that TIME TO MOVE ON A REVIEW his priority concerned the restoration of pensions in full. So, now is the ideal time for this new Government to He is not the first, and won’t be the last Minister move this review, declare the financial emergency over, to undergo such a remarkable change in policy, as one and set an immediate timescale for the complete repeal of passes from the Merrion Street side of Government all FEMPI legislation. Buildings to the Kildare Street side. However, each of us must now play out the final act. So, colleagues play your part, speak to and lobby the Collectively we must interact with all newly-elected 158 public representatives in your area. These are the people TDs remind them of the huge sacrifices we have made in you have elected. Remind them of commitments and restoring this country back into solvency. demand the striking down of all FEMPI legislation. And in Any question of putting off this repeal of FEMPI closing, gently remind them that we may be going to the legislation for another year is simply not acceptable. Those country again soon. in power tend to defend the indefensible, and those outside the fold, tend to demand reform. GSRMA Editorial Board Síocháin 1 CONTENTS The Official Magazine of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association Summer 2016 Volume 45 • Issue 2 • ISSN 1649-5896 Cover image: Alan Dowley, AGSI Head Office. 4 ASSOCIATION NEWS 16 GSRMA PRESIDENT Matt Cosgrave provides an update on the work of the sub-committees, which he set up following his election in June 2015. improvement loan then it’s time to members who murdered Garda 18 IN-HOUSE REPORT talk to St Paul’s Garda Credit Union. Michael Reynolds on 11 September 1975. 38 AFTERMATH OF THE RISING 56 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Congratulations to Tralee Branch member Paddy Reidy who celebrated his 90th birthday, and to Galway’s Mick Lernihan from Mervue who recently marked his 93rd birthday. The Department of Justice and Equality is not prepared to amend the rules in relation to court 59 BRITISH EMBASSY expenses for retired Gardaí, which Following the Easter Rising, the only apply to criminal and not civil DMP remained an unarmed police proceedings. and its members resumed normal policing duties, unlike the RIC who were directed to carry their 27 LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES revolvers at all times. GSRMA Certificates were presented to branch members from Athlone, Castlebar, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin 44 TAXATION MATTERS A personal account from a retired North, Limerick City and County, in Trusts are a good way to safeguard GSRMA member who, as a young recognition of long years of service. assets and ensure they are passed sergeant, was on duty during from one family generation to the events surrounding Bloody Sunday next, but you need to do your sums in 1972 and the resultant bombing 29 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR before a judgement can be made. of the British Embassy. 36 HOME IMPROVEMENTS 50 GARDA MICHAEL REYNOLDS 67 CONNOLLY LAW Planning to replace your roof, In the final part of his series on In 1966 the Connolly Family build an extension or install a new ‘Death Flows the Naniken’, George became a force to be reckoned kitchen? If you need a home Langan outlines the trial of the gang and changed the landscape of the 2 Síocháin CONTENTS border area in Monaghan, when 85 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS five out of their ten children joined Michael Dalton, Tullamore Branch, GSRMA EDITORIAL An Garda Síochána. remembers an incident that turned on its head that familiar saying BOARD ‘Blood is thicker than water’ (where LOOK BACK Paschal Feeney 69 people are related their decisions (Editor & General Secretary) When his father died in 1966, Jim will always favour their relative. Herlihy was left a treasured tin box, which was to reveal a treasure trove of family stories of the old world 87 GLORIOUS SERVICE of Ireland and the new world of The Diamond Jubilee in Mullingar Massachusetts. in 2014 was held to remember and pray for colleagues, both alive and departed. 75 FINANCIAL REGULATIONS 93 MEMORABILIA PAGE Tim Bowe 95 MEMBERSHIP FORM 97 OBITUARY NOTICES The EU’s Single Resolution Mechanism aims to help avoid 109 POETRY CORNER future financial crises. However, despite a greater emphasis on crisis 110 ARCHIVE SNAPSHOTS prevention, banks may still get into Noel E. O’Sullivan difficulty, so beware! 112 IN THE FRAME 79 BURNING BUSHES The final part of the satirical tale 114 CROSSWORD COMPETITION relating to stringent requirements to obtain a permit from Cavan County Council to burn bushes. 117 BULLETIN BOARD Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association, SÍOCHÁIN is published by Ocean Publishing, 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6785165; Email: [email protected] Website: www.oceanpublishing.ie GSRMA House, 5 Harrington Street, Managing Director: Patrick Aylward In-House Editor: Grace Heneghan Dublin 8. In-House Designer: Catherine Doyle Tel: 01-4781525 PRESS CONCIL OF IRELAND Fax: 01-4785127 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 Email: [email protected] method of dealing with complaints that they may have in relation to articles that appear on our pages. To contact Website: www.gardaretired.com the office of the Press Ombudsman visit www.pressombudsman.ie or www.presscouncil.ie or LoCall 1890 208 080. The views expressed in SIOCHAIN, unless expressly stated, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, the YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON Editorial Board, the GSRMA, Ocean Publishing, the Garda Commissioner or An Garda Síochána. Opinions expressed by the authors and services offered by advertisers are not specifically endorsed by the GSRMA. All rights reserved. Facebook www.facebook.com/GardaRetired No part of SIOCHAIN may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission Twitter www.twitter.com/GardaRetired from the Editorial Board and the Publisher. Copyright © 2016 Ocean Publishing Síocháin 3 ASSOCIATION NEWS BRAY BRANCH At the AGM in Bray’s Strand Hotel in March, incoming chairman, Tom Conway, paid tributes to the outgoing committee of John Hickson, Jim Dunleavy and Andy Brennan, and he thanked them for all their hard work over the years. The newly-elected incoming committee are Tom Conway (Chairman), John Smith (Secretary) and Mick Lernihan (Treasurer). The Bray Branch meets at 3.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month in the Strand Hotel, Bray. All retired members/widows who reside in the North Wicklow or South Dublin area are welcome to attend.