Irish Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan's scheduled State commemoration event for the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been indefinitely postponed following intense political backlash. The event was slated to honour their services during the First World War.
In a recent statement, Minister Flanagan stated that “given the disappointing response of some to the planned event on 17th January, I do not believe that the event, as planned, can now take place in an atmosphere that meets the goals and guiding principles of the overall commemorative programme. Therefore, I am announcing its deferral.”
Ireland is currently commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Decade of Centenaries, which extended from 1912-1923, for being “a decade of great change”. This period saw the campaign for Home Rule, World War I, the Easter Rising of 1916 and the War for Independence. In celebration of this, there are various events across Ireland. In fact, since 2012, an interdenominational service is held every year by the Historical and Reconciliation Police (Harp) Society for the members of the RIC and DMP who were killed during the War of Independence, mostly at the hands of the Irish Republican Army.
The criticism for the commemoration event planned by Minister Flanagan is widespread. Most critiques believe that this event appears as a celebration of the brutality and atrocities caused by the two police forces during the Irish War of Independence. Critics argue that the event would indirectly celebrate the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries, who fought along with the British Army and are known for their attacks on civilians. In response, political leaders have not only called for delaying the event but an outright cancellation.
Minister Flanagan has repeatedly clarified his intention to commemorate the RIC and DMP, not the atrocities committed. He has emphasized that his proposed event would commemorate the honourable members of the RIC and the DMP, not the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries.
However, the public sentiment, supported by political parties and their leaders, refuse to accept this justification and continue to reject the event. While Minister Flanagan has given in to the pressures and delayed the commemoration, he remains committed to conducting it in the future.
Image Source: Irish Times