ELABORATE secret plans for the repatriation of Roger Casement's remains were co ordinated at the Irish Embassy in London in early 1965.
The British prime minister, Mr Wilson, had emphasised that "there could be no ceremonies on the British side and that he wished to avoid sensational publicity over the actual arrangements," according to a confidential report on the repatriation.
The British also feared that Casement's remains would be reinterred in Murlough in Northern Ireland. They sought, and were given, an assurance that they would be buried in Glasnevin, and that "any question of the further removal of the remains should not be considered until the unity of Ireland was restored.
In order to avoid "ghoulish attempts by press photographers to photograph the actual exhumation", the plan was kept secret until the proceedings were over.
The decision to repatriate following what the Irish Independent called "the 49 year old campaign for the return of the patriot's remains" - was announced at roughly the same time in the Dail and in Westminster on February 23rd, 1965. By that time they were already on their way across the Irish Sea in a lead casket contained in a larger wooden coffin draped with the Tricolour.
The repatriation caused a sensation in Dublin. Five days later thousands of people lined the streets of the city in silent tribute as the coffin was carried past them on an Army gun carriage, to the sound of muffled drums.
Before the exhumation, officials from the Embassy went to great lengths to authenticate the location of Casement's grave in Pentonville Prison, using maps, drawings and other documents.
During the exhumation, which took place at night, British prison officials told the Irish party that Casement had not been buried in quicklime, contrary to the traditional view in Ireland.
When the warders reached a depth of between six and seven feet, however, they came across a thick layer of lime which spread the whole length of the grave.
Shortly afterwards they unearthed some human bones.
It became clear that only individual bones and not a complete skeleton would be recovered. "By degrees more bones were handed up. These were carefully washed by one of the prison officers, passed to another who dried them and then passed to us, by which stage we were placing them in the coffin in their approximately correct positions according as they were identified by Dr Mason."
When the officials were satisfied that no more remains would be found, the top of the lead casket was soldered into position and the mahogany top of the coffin was screwed down. It was then placed overnight in the prison's Catholic chapel.