Sir, – I was saddened to read Michael McArdle’s letter (September 5th). I am currently working on Document CO762 in the Kew Archives (The Irish Claims Commission files – 3,632 of them). I would guess that Mr McArdle’s grandfather fitted into one of the more common claims: ex-RIC men, returned to their homes after disbandment in 1922 to be woken-up – usually between midnight and 4 am – given 24 hours to leave the country and, in most cases, their wives and families being given an extra 48 hours to leave. A quick check on the first 300 files gives 30 ex-officers and six widows claiming. This does not include quite a number of parents, brothers and sisters who were boycotted because of their relatives’ membership. In that first 300, there was at least one pregnant wife who miscarried as a result of the treatment she got from these “heroes’. There was also the case of ex-Constable James Reilly of Tipperary (aged 64) who was exiled. His son was later warned that he had better not return as a senior member of Sinn Féin wanted his house.
Sadly for Mr McArdle, no one of that name claimed.
As to de Valera and McNeill’s statements of April 10th, 1919, surely this was the usual war-chiefs winding their soldiers up to deeds of gaiscidheacht – Brian Boru did it, famously, before Clontarf. The police in many European countries were armed at that time to protect them from Bolsheviks and other undesirable elements. – Yours, etc,