A commemorative event for the Royal Irish Constabulary is to be held in St Paul’s Cathedral in London next April. It follows the cancellation of the proposed state commemoration of the police force that was scheduled to be held in Dublin in January 2020 but was abandoned after a major controversy erupted. The commemorative service is being hosted by the British-based Police Roll of Honour Trust following an approach from a group of ex-gardaí who had also been central to initiating the proposed event in Dublin. The event came about after members of the Historical and Reconciliation Police (HARP) Society, made up of ex-gardaí, sought to find an alternative means of commemorating the RIC after the collapse of the state event. Opposition to the proposed event in January 2020 for the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police blew up when the Taoiseach’s department sent out invites to local authorities and councillor Cathal Crowe in Co Clare voiced his objection.

Source: Irish Examiner September 06, 2021 19:30 UTC