O'Higgins scholarship for Garda rejected

O'Higgins row: The government refused an offer of a Garda scholarship in memory of Kevin O'Higgins on a number of occasions, according to the State papers.

His daughter, Ms Una O'Higgins O'Malley offered a legacy of about £300 for a prize or a scholarship in the Garda force "which he instituted and loved". Kevin O'Higgins, the Free State's minister for justice and external affairs, was shot dead on his way to Sunday Mass in 1927.

He had been a key figure in the establishment of the Civic Guard, which was to become the Garda Síochána.

Writing to the then Taoiseach, Seán Lemass in May, 1962, Ms O'Higgins O'Malley said she had been told that the offer of the fund was rejected, as it was "unwelcome" to the minister for justice, Mr Charlie Haughey. The initial offer was made to the Garda Commissioner, but Mr Haughey asked him to decline it because the Garda Síochána should not be publicly associated with any political party.

"But perhaps you would find it possible to give the matter further consideration, and accept the offer in the spirit in which it is made - namely, an earnest wish to be constructive and to forget as much of one's bitterness as possible," she wrote to Lemass.

"My father loved and worked for the cause which now engages your son-in-law [Mr Haughey]. Is it not possible for us to co-operate to some extent, 35 years after his death?"

Lemass later responded to Ms O'Higgins O'Malley saying he was "satisfied there are substantial objections to it [the offer].

"In the circumstances, I suggest that you should consider alternative ways of utilising the memorial funds," he added.

She replied saying: "Your letter of May 19th amazes me. When dying, my father prayed for and pardoned those who took his life. He is not yet pardoned for their sin."

Ten years later, on the Garda Síochána's 50th anniversary, she wrote to the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch about the matter.

He gave the same reason for refusing the memorial fund but said he had asked the minister for justice, Mr Des O'Malley to see if the fund could be used in an acceptable way.

The file of correspondence closes with that letter.