Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has stated that he plans to refuse to attend the government’s planned Commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary ( RIC ) next week, should he be invited.
The Fianna Fáil TD and Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireann said the event is an example of the government being ‘out of touch’ with Irish people and Irish history.
The event commemorating the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police has been scheduled for 17th January at Dublin Castle.
Pat the Cope Gallagher has joined the list of representatives, including the entire Sinn Féin party, who are calling for the event to be cancelled.
He said: “The Government have made such a divisive issue of their handling of these events, that they should immediately cancel the commemoration which is to take place later next week.
“They have reopened a period of unbelievable cruelty, hurt and violence from our country’s history, while failing as Government to understand that at that time our forefathers stood alone against an Empire and the worse tyranny that they could inflict on any people – the scars of that period are visible in every community visited upon by the Special Reservist Force of the RIC.
“The period of history surrounding the RIC Special Reservist Force ( aka Black and Tans ) in Ireland is the most darkest in the many chapters of our shared history with our nearest neighbour the United Kingdom, the Government in wishing to commemorate the RIC have failed to consider the totality of the History of the RIC and its auxiliary force during the 1919 to 1922.
“The Government once again have demonstrated to the Irish people how completely out of touch they are with their thinking of the Irish people both in the present and in terms of our history,” concluded Pat the Cope.
