Politics
Elaine Byrne: State apology for Civil War executions could help us finally confront our painful past
As Kildare prepares to host a memorial for seven Republicans executed in 1922 following secret trials, the opportunity for the next Taoiseach to make a public apology should not be squandered
Should an official state apology be given to the 81 men who were executed by the government during the Civil War? Earlier this month, both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste made thoughtful and measured remarks which acknowledged the unconstitutional nature of some of these killings.
Micheál Martin told the Dáil that the executions of Rory O’Connor, Liam Mellows, Richard ‘Dick’ Barrett and Joseph McKelvey on December 8, 1922, were “not in accordance with the law. As ...
