SÍOCHÁIN GARDA MEMORIAL DAY 2019 HONOURS FALLEN HEROES WINTERSummer 20152019 ISSN 1649-5896 www.gardaretired.com SCAN QR CODE FOR www.gardaretired.com MEMBERS’ AREA EDITORIAL COMMENT GARDA CEREMONY MARKS SPECIAL MEMORIAL IN MAY Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan addressed this year’s Garda Memorial Ceremony on 18 May, again held in Dublin Castle, to honour and remember the 88 colleagues who paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for Ireland, writes GSRMA General Secretary Paschal Feeney. he Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association day. They owe that debt of gratitude to the families of T(GSRMA) is only two years away from celebrating its those brave 88 men, who are left behind. 60th Anniversary in 2021, while the 100th anniversary of As I referred to earlier, we are fast approaching our the foundation An Garda Síochána will be celebrated in centenary. In February 2022 we will all, no doubt, be 2022. back in Dublin Castle to celebrate our first 100 years. Each year on the third Saturday of May we remember Likewise we will have to remember An Garda Síochána’s our fallen 88 colleagues who paid the ultimate sacrifice predecessors – the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and by giving their lives for Ireland. Garda Commissioner Drew the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP), which sustained Harris and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan reminded hundreds of casualties in the troubles. us of this fact at this year’s ceremony on 18 May in the We must remember them always. ‘Lest We Forget’. Memorial Gardens of Dublin Castle. They reminded us that members of An Garda Síochána go about their daily duties so that the citizens of this fine State can go about their daily lives in relative peace and harmony. As serving members of An Garda Síochána you did just that in your daily service, without question, and most certainly did so with pride in the uniform you wore. Commissioner Harris reminded us that the uniform was not a mere piece of clothing, just like the Garda badge is not just a logo. It runs much deeper than that. And so say all of us. We recall with pride the thousands of people we have interacted with during our service to the state, and the thousands we succeeded in putting on the right path. Police service is not all about arrests. Yes it plays a major part of our role, but likewise it also assists and helps many on the right path. For our fallen 88 colleagues they too went about their duties in their respective communities in delivering justice to one and all. TOTAL COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY On each of the fateful days they met their deaths they did not flinch or waver in their commitment to An Garda Síochána and the community they served. Sadly in that commitment they gave their lives for Ireland. GSRMA President Matt Givens, Garda Commissioner Drew Ireland owes them a debt of gratitude not merely on Harris and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan at this year’s the third Saturday of May each year but each and every Garda Memorial Day in Dublin Castle on 18 May. Síocháin 1 SÍOCHÁIN GARDA MEMORIAL DAY 2019 CONTENTS HONOURS FALLEN HEROES The Official Magazine of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association WINTERSummer 20152019 ISSN 1649-5896 www.gardaretired.com SCAN QR CODE FOR www.gardaretired.com MEMBERS’ AREA Summer 2019 Volume 48 • Issue 2 • ISSN 1649-5896 4 ASSOCIATION NEWS 37 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 50 LOOK BACK John Mulligan, Dublin North Branch, who visited the former 24 IN-HOUSE REPORT 41 VOLUNTEERING OVERSEAS Nazi camp in Dachau for the first The GSRMA will run a number of Martin O’Connor, Carlow time in October, relates the story seminars this autumn across every Branch, spent over 12 weeks of Michael Joseph McGrath from region to provide members with in the Southeast Asian country Roscommon – the first Irishman to information on a range of issues, of Laos late last year, where he have been interned there during writes Paschal Feeney, GSRMA taught English in a school for WW2. General Secretary. He also reports disadvantaged children. on new policies and procedures due to come into force to govern 53 CARA CRAOIBH privacy rights and sharing personal 42 MEDALS OF HONOUR An Garda Síochána is tailor- data under the Data Sharing and The HARP Society aims to made and advantageous for a Governance Act 2019. encourage more serving and scheme such as Cara Craoibh retired Gardaí to wear their medals (Panel of Friends), primarily at events such as the annual due to its historical close links interdenominational service for RIC and associations, writes Frank and DMP members and the annual Fitzpatrick, Central Committee UK National Police Memorial Day, Member. writes Matt Cosgrave, Dublin North Branch. 30 GSRMA SOCIAL OUTINGS * March: Midleton, Cork * April: Tour of Scotland * Sept: Waterford City * Nov: Ennistymon, Co. Clare * Nov: Christmas Markets in Belfast 54 LIFE & TIMES OF PAT 34 FINANCIAL AFFAIRS 46 DANGERS FACED BY POLICE NOLAN As the lobbying campaign by the The highlights of the first half of Carrignavar is a village in Co. Cork GSRMA in collaboration with the 1919 related to the first meeting of where Sgt Pat Nolan spent 20 years Alliance of Retired Public Servants’ Dail Eireann on 21 January and the before retiring from the force on continues unabated, Joe Dirwan, Soloheadbeg Ambush on the same 24 February 1987. After recently Central Committee, reminds date, but as the year progressed, celebrating his 89th birthday he members that the present relativity the lives of RIC and DMP members spoke with Tim Bowe, Cork City on pension payments is due to end was more at risk, writes Donal J. Branch, about the many twists and on 31 December 2020. O’Sullivan, Tralee Branch. turns during his long Garda career. 2 Síocháin CONTENTS 59 SIR RICHARD WILLCOCKS 74 SHORT STORY Jim Herlihy, Cork City Branch, details ‘Friday Massacre’ by Mary Molloy, the life and times of Ireland’s first Naas Branch, who was the second GSRMA EDITORIAL police chief Richard Willcocks, one runner-up of the 2018 GSRMA Short BOARD of the most respected members of Story Competition. Paschal Feeney Dublin County’s magistracy, who (Editor & General Secretary) received a Knighthood upon his retirement in 1827 as a mark of 79 MEMBERSHIP FORM approval for his sterling service. 77 MEMORABILIA PAGE 64 MARY WARD The 150th anniversary of the world’s first road collision fatality 81 OBITUARY NOTICES will be marked on 31 August. Billy Saunderson Michael Brosnan, Wexford Branch, ARCHIVE SNAPSHOTS recounts the tragic accident on the 92 morning of 31 August 1869, in Birr, Co. Offaly, which claimed the life of 96 CROSSWORD Mary Ward (1828-1869) who blazed a trail in the 19th century Ireland as a leading scientist of her generation. 107 IN THE FRAME John O’Brien 70 DIY TASKS AT HOME 113 POETRY CORNER Kevin Bowen, Clonmel Branch, outlines the legal consequences in the event of an injury in the 116 BULLETIN BOARD home, sustained by a visitor due to DIY work carried out by the householder. 119 NOTICEBOARD 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 © 2019 Ocean Publishing Síocháin 3 ASSOCIATION NEWS ATHY BRANCH Athy members of GSRMA enjoy a coffee morning in Bradburys. BRAY BRANCH Long Service Certificates were presented at the April Tom the very best on his co-option on to the Central meeting by branch chairman Tom Conway to two Committee. The Branch sends deepest condolences members – Vanessa Davis and John Smith, former to the family of the late Joe Ward on his recent Branch Secretary. The Branch membership wishes passing. Tom Conway pictured with John Smith, former Branch Tom Conway pictured with Vanessa Davis and her son Secretary. Jamie. 4 Síocháin ASSOCIATION NEWS CAVAN BRANCH Five members of the Cavan Branch boarded a bus at the Meadow View car park in Cavan and joined members from ONE O’Neill Branch Cavan, Cavan UN Veterans and friends from the Cavan Military & Historic Event (which took place August 2018) for a trip to Belfast on 10 April. The sight of the towering yellow H&W cranes signaled we were nearing our first stop, the Titanic Belfast experience.