Stories of the revolution: Andrews family not entitled to funeral grant for wife

The well-known Andrews political family was refused a funeral grant to bury the widow of Todd Andrews.

Joyce Andrews, his second wife, died in August 2008. They were married in 1968. Todd Andrews died in 1985. In September 2008, the pension payments section refused a funeral grant to the Andrews family, who lived on Goatstown Road, Dublin.

The official at the pension payments section said a funeral grant could only be paid to special allowance holders, military service pensioners, certain disability pensioners and holders of a 1916 or service (1917-1921) medals.

Although Mrs Andrews was in receipt of an allowance as the widow of a military service pensioner, her family was not entitled to a funeral grant.

Prominent republican

Todd Andrews was both a prominent republican during the War of Independence and the Civil War. He was also a major figure in the Free State, serving as the chairman or managing director of the Irish Tourist Association, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), Bord na Móna, CIÉ and finally as chairman of the

RTÉ

Authority.

His sons David Andrews, a former minister for foreign affairs, and Niall Andrews were both Fianna Fáil TDs. His grandsons include former Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews and Barry Andrews, the comedian Dave McSavage and RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy.

In his military pension file, Andrews revealed that he joined the Irish Volunteers while at university. His first task was making bombs. In 1919, he claimed to have been a full-time organiser raiding for guns.

He was arrested while attempting to raid income tax receipts in March 1920. He went on hunger strike in jail and was released after 10 days. He quickly returned to the Volunteers. “I had no other interests,” he told the pensions board.

On Bloody Sunday 1920, he was part of the squads sent out by Michael Collins to assassinate British agents in Dublin. He went to 7 Ranelagh Road to execute Lieut William Noble, a British intelligence officer and a member of the notorious Cairo Gang, but he was not there. The house was burned down instead.

He was interned in May 1921 but escaped through an underground tunnel from Rath camp in August 1921. He immediately rejoined the IRA and was in charge of the divisional camp in Dungloe, Co Donegal.

He joined the anti-Treaty side and was injured during fighting in O’Connell Street in June 1922. He was at the right hand side of Gen Liam Lynch, the chief of staff of the anti- Treaty IRA, who was killed in the Knockmealdown Mountains in April 1923.

14-day hunger strike

Andrews was arrested by Free State forces in the same month and not released until April 1924. He underwent another 14-day stint on hunger strike.

He was granted a service pension at the rank of D, E being the lowest.

He wrote to the pensions board stating that his service should have been awarded in the rank of C. Although nominally a captain, he claimed to have had the duties of a brigade commandant.

“I wish to state that from 1920 onwards, I was virtually a wholetime volunteer and it was impossible for me to pursue my ordinary vocation.”