The government was yesterday urged to follow the example of Britain in honouring its war dead and properly commemorating those who died in the War of Independence and the struggle for Irish freedom.
A republican, Mr Hugo Flynn, told the 78th Kilmichael Commemoration the time was now opportune for all political parties to agree on one special date to honour those who fought, suffered and died for Irish independence. "Whatever one thinks about the British establishment and British imperialism, one must at least admit they do honour their war dead in a very fitting manner," said Mr Flynn at the commemoration of the Kilmichael ambush in November 1920 in Co Cork yesterday. Originally from Cork, Mr Hugo Flynn is a Dublin-based businessman and proprietor of the Druid's Glen golf club in Co Wicklow.
"If only an Irish Government would do likewise for our patriot dead. Our patriots died in defence of freedom. The British fought largely in their imperial interest," said Mr Flynn. "There should be an agreed symbol or badge to be worn by everybody including TV presenters and the funds generated could be used for the upkeep and maintenance of Republican memorials," he said.
Turning to the recent controversy over the ambush, in which a contingent of Auxiliaries were wiped out by an IRA Flying Column under Tom Barry, Mr Flynn rejected a claim by historian Mr Peter Hart that Barry falsified his account of a false surrender. In The IRA and its Enemies Mr Hart argues that Barry's account of the ambush is "riddled with lies and evasions. These grave charges by a prominent historian have to be answered, Mr Flynn said. He pointed out that Mr Hart based his claim that there was no false surrender on a hand-written report of the ambush which he claimed was written by Barry and captured by the British and which makes no mention of a false surrender.
"This is not correct. The alleged captured report is not hand-written. It is not signed by Barry and it contains many serious differences from later accounts by Barry and others," he said, adding that it contained errors about the timing of the ambush, the number of men in the Flying Column and the amount of ammunition they had.
He claimed the report was a forgery and it formed the basis for the propaganda statement released by British forces immediately afterwards. Mr Hugo Flynn argued that the British failure to recognise the ballot in Ireland led General Tom Barry and others to act. "I wonder if the Orange bigots and the British military establishment will allow the democratic wishes of the Irish people to prevail at the present time," he asked. "The question at the moment is whether the wishes of the 84 per cent on this island of Ireland will prevail over the 16 per cent."