SÍOCHÁIN HEROES RECEIVE GOLD SCOTT MEDALS ... AFTER 42 YEARS! ICLVR RENEWS APPEAL TO LOCATE VICTIMS’ REMAINS ST PAUL’S CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY Spring 2018 WINTERISSN 1649-5896 2015 ISSN 1649-5896 SCAN QR CODE www.gardaretired.com FOR MEMBERS’ AREA! EDITORIAL COMMENT SCOTT MEDAL PRESENTATION IS LONG OVERDUE The State rightfully and finally awarded Scott Gold Medals to the Gardaí involved in the shoot-out with paramilitaries in October 1976, but GSRMA General Secretary Paschal Feeney says the medals should have been presented shortly after the tragedy and not 42 years later. uch is said about heroes, and over the past number Mof days with the ‘Beast from the East meeting Storm Emma’ over Ireland we have borne the brunt of severe adverse weather not usually associated with the island of Ireland. Indeed many untold stories as yet unknown shall be revealed over the next days and weeks of the gallant and heroic efforts made by many not only in public service life but of ordinary citizens going above and beyond the call to assist where possible either their trapped neighbours or to get that sick child or adult to hospital or to urgent medical care. Let’s hope all of those citizens are given the due recognition and reward which they so richly deserve. In October 1976, a party of Gardaí went to a vacant Gold Scott Medals were presented to (l-r): Gerry Bohan, house in Garryhinch, near Portarlington, Co. Laois to Peter Clerkin (on behalf of his brother Michael Clerkin), answer an anonymous tip off that there was a plot afoot Tom Peters, Ben Thornton and Jim Cannon, on 8 to murder the then Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Oliver J. December 2017. Flanagan TD for Laois/Offaly. The Garda party despatched to Garryhinch went not alive to see this State do what they should have done there, as it was their duty to respond, as the overriding in 1976. Where is the justification in all of this? Is that fundamental principle of any police officer, no matter the culture of Ireland pays lip service and lip service only? where in the world you are, is to preserve life. Where is the justification that when the application of The culture of members of An Garda Síochána (be Scott Medals went before the Awards Board in 1976, and it in 1976 or 2018) is to respond to such calls, as to do refused, that the decision in refusal was copper-fastened otherwise would be a gross neglect of duty. As we all with the appendum “This decision is unappealable”? know on that fateful night Garda Michael Clerkin paid the Members of An Garda Síochána each and every day ultimate sacrifice for this State, and in so doing lost his leave their homes and their families and go to serve the life. people of Ireland. All too often they are assaulted in the Murdered in the line of duty, no other words or course of their duty. Sadly, on occasion, some have lost dancing around it can attempt to show it otherwise. their lives, as in this case. Other members of that party were seriously injured, and Do they not deserve to be treated with respect? Do have carried the scars of those injuries, together with their families likewise not deserve the respect of our the trauma of that event for the past 42 years. They elected parliamentarians? While the decision not to are Detective Garda Tom Peters, Sergeant Jim Cannon, award the Scott Medals originally, was a decision within Detective Garda Ben Thornton and Garda Gerry Bohan. An Garda Síochána, there was undoubtedly a political At an awards ceremony in Garda College Templemore influence behind the scenes, as is always the case in in early December 2017 the State finally decided to Ireland. rightfully make the award of Scott Gold Medals to all Let us remember our fallen hero Michael Clerkin, and recipients. The award to Garda Michael Clerkin was let us remember our colleagues who have borne their made posthumously. For 42 long years this State denied horrific injuries for over 40 years. Heroes one and all. those heroes who should have been awarded as soon as possible after the tragedy in 1976. NOTE: A report on the Gold Scott Medal presentation What a disgrace that Michael Clarkin’s parents were appears on pages 52-55 in this issue. Síocháin 1 SÍOCHÁIN HEROES RECEIVE GOLD SCOTT MEDALS ... AFTER 42 YEARS! CONTENTS The Official Magazine of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association ICLVR RENEWS APPEAL TO LOCATE VICTIMS’ REMAINS ST PAUL’S CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY Spring 2018 WINTERISSN 1649-5896 2015 ISSN 1649-5896 SCAN QR CODE Spring 2018 www.gardaretired.com FOR MEMBERS’ AREA! Volume 47 • Issue 1 • ISSN 1649-5896 5 ASSOCIATION NEWS 45 ICLVR APPEAL 57 RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP On the night of Saturday 14 May The new partnership between 1977, British Army Captain Robert the Lifesaving Foundation and 24 IN-HOUSE REPORT Nairac was abducted from a bar in Waterford Institute of Technology South Armagh and murdered in a aims to reduce drowning death field in Ravensdale, Co. Louth. Now numbers through researching the 31 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 40 years later, the Independent concept of self-rescue in life- Commission for the Location of threatening situations. This will be Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) is looking undertaken in co-operation with An ST PAUL’S GARDA CREDIT 34 for any information that could help Garda Síochána and the GSRMA. UNION with their investigation in the case St Paul’s Garda Credit Union, which of this missing remains. celebrated 50 years in operation 59 STATE PENSIONS last year, now has in excess of (CONTRIBUTORY) 28,700 members, since the first 47 THE HUMBLE SPUD Answers to a range of Frequently meeting in November 1967. Pat Lehane reflects on the time Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning Current chairman Martin O’Sullivan when the potato was harvested the rules and regulations of the looks back on the highlights of the in Ireland, and recalls that each State Pension (Contributory) are union over the last five decades. November the farmer showed his provided here by Kevin Kelly, who appreciation by hosting the famous also the outlines the conditions ‘The Praty Ball’, serving up food, under which members may qualify dance, music plus an ample supply for this pension. of porter served in a two-pound jam jar. 52 SCOTT MEDAL PRESENTATIONS Jim Phelan, Portlaoise Branch, attended the presentation of Gold 64 SPORTING HEROES 35 SHORT STORY Scott Medals for Bravery to James It may have taken Offaly 97 years COMPETITION Cannon, Ben Thornton, Tom Peters, from the foundation of the GAA to Entries are now open for the Short Gerard Bohan and Peter Clerkin win a Senior Hurling Championship Story Competition 2018 and the (on behalf of his brother Michel but a man of Offaly parentage usual T&Cs will again apply. With Clerkin), at Templemore Garda won two Celtic Crosses as early as this year’s deadline not until Friday Training College last December. 1929 and 1931, writes Carthage 28 September, you have plenty Minnock. of time to return your completed entry forms. 67 GARDA PERSONNEL REGISTERS The launch of the digital records of old DMP and Garda Personnel Registers took place at Dublin Castle in late January. GSRMA President Mathias Cosgrave 2 Síocháin CONTENTS attended the event at the invitation 82 MUTINY BY THE RIC of Sgt Martin Drew, Garda Museum Castleisland in County Kerry was a Curator. very difficult place for policemen GSRMA EDITORIAL to work during the 1880s. A BOARD mutiny involving 13 RIC members FLY-FISHING Paschal Feeney 69 at Castleisland Barracks in 1887 CHAMPIONSHIP (Editor & General Secretary) attracted a lot of media attention at The Garda Trout and Salmon the time, writes Donal J. O’Sullivan. Anglers, comprising of both serving and retired members of the Force, achieved a momentous victory in 88 MEMORABILIA PAGE the ‘Police 5 Nations Fly-Fishing Championship late last year. 89 OBITUARY NOTICES 73 MURDER OF LEA WILSON 106 ARCHIVE SNAPSHOTS The murder of District Inspector Billy Saunderson Percival Lea Wilson in Wexford during the War of Independence 111 IN THE FRAME was a well-planned execution, writes Tom Miller, Wexford Branch. 112 CROSSWORD 78 GSRMA SOCIAL OUTINGS The social outings are certainly 115 POETRY CORNER growing in popularity with a wide range of other trips on this year’s calendar. However, the GSRMA 117 BULLETIN BOARD Social Outings Committee advises Joe Ward early bookings and looks forward 120 NOTICEBOARD to meeting members on future getaway breaks at home and abroad. Garda Síochána Retired SÍOCHÁIN is published by Ocean Publishing, 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6785165; Members’ Association, Email: [email protected] Website: www.oceanpublishing.ie GSRMA House, Managing Director: Patrick Aylward 5 Harrington Street, In-House Editor: Grace Heneghan In-House Designer: Catherine Doyle Dublin 8. PRESS CONCIL OF IRELAND Tel: 01-4781525 SIOCHAIN is a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports the office of the Press Fax: 01-4785127 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 Email: [email protected] the office of the Press Ombudsman visit www.pressombudsman.ie or www.presscouncil.ie or LoCall 1890 208 080. Website: www.gardaretired.com The views expressed in SIOCHAIN, unless expressly stated, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, the Editorial Board, the GSRMA, Ocean Publishing, the Garda Commissioner or An Garda Síochána.