THERE ARE some political taunts that never lose their ability to start a row, and the oldest one of all surfaced again yesterday in the sedate setting of Seanad Éireann.
“Is it not ironic the way history repeats itself?” said Fine Gael Senator Tom Sheahan, pausing for effect before adding: “Deputy Micheál Martin is not the first Corkman to be shot in the back by a de Valera.”
He said he was referring to “events which occurred 90 years ago”, just in case Senators didn’t get the reference to the killing of Michael Collins at Béal na mBláth in 1922.
The Senator’s mock concern for Mr Martin, who forced his deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív – a grandson of de Valera – to resign on Wednesday because of his defiance on the party’s support for the fiscal treaty referendum, had the desired effect.
There was an immediate explosion from the Fianna Fáil benches. “That is an absolutely outrageous statement to make, either inside or outside the House,” thundered Senator Paschal Mooney.
Independent Senator David Norris said the comment was “unworthy” of Mr Sheahan. He said there was no evidence that Éamon de Valera was involved in the death of Collins.
Mr Mooney intervened to say that if the remark was not withdrawn, Fianna Fáil Senators would leave the chamber.
Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke, who had already jumped in to ask Mr Sheahan to withdraw the remark, repeated the request in an attempt to prevent an outbreak of civil war politics in the Seanad.
Having got everybody into a state of high excitement, Mr Sheahan remarked mildly: “I will withdraw the comment which appears to have caused upset.”
That the question of who shot Michael Collins still has the ability to provoke a political row 90 years after the event is a testament to the significance of an event that played such an important role in the first year of the State’s existence.
While Éamon de Valera went on to become the dominant political figure in 20th-century Ireland, the questions about the shooting of Collins never went away.
Neil Jordan’s 1996 film Michael Collins implied that de Valera had a direct role in the shooting, but, as Mr Norris told the Seanad, there is no evidence of this.
Mr Martin will this evening open the party’s 73rd ardfheis with a speech on the role of republicanism in modern Ireland.