Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath welcomes government decision to defer RIC commemoration

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has welcomed the decision of the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, to defer the proposed state commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC).

Deputy McGrath , speaking after Minister Charlie Flanagan  had announced the decision to defer the commemoration, said Minister Flanagan was forced into a humiliating political climbdown following significant national outrage at the planned event

“This is a victory against the sheer political hubris and arrogance that Fine Gael, and in particular the Minister for Justice and the Taoiseach have both displayed in the last number of days.

Their ham-fisted and insensitive approach threw a dark cloud over what is already and undoubtedly going to be, a painful and emotional time for many families and communities who maintain strong active links to the War of Independence.

I am delighted that the wishes of so many ordinary people have been acknowledged-even if was done so in a rather begrudging and reluctant statement by Minister Flanagan.

This is a lesson for government; that they cannot simply force people to commemorate an institution like the RIC and then compound that arrogance by calling those who objected ‘backward’ and regressive and expect to get away it,” concluded Deputy McGrath who was one of three Tipperary TD's who highlighted their opposition to the planned commemoration prior to Tuesday evenings decision to defer the commemoration event.

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