THE destruction of Nelson's Pillar in 1966 led to delicate negotiations with the pillar's trustees who feared that "pro British elements" might insist that they restore it, writes Padraig O'Morain.
Papers from the Department of the Taoiseach also reveal that the government feared the trustees would seek an injunction to stop the Army from blowing up the remainder of the pillar.
The pillar, a monument as closely identified with Dublin as the Eiffel Tower is with Paris, was blown up on March 8th, 1966, apparently by people claiming to be republicans.
At a Cabinet meeting that day the Taoiseach, Mr Lemass, pressed for the removal of the stump of the pillar "as expeditiously as possible". The following day he was told that the pillar was private property owned by trustees.
On the same day the Army's director of engineering, Col R.G. Mew, sent the Department a detailed memo on how to blow up the stump.
A meeting in the Department a couple of days later decided to warn the Taoiseach that "notwithstanding all possible care by the Army, some risk to life or of injury remains, particularly in the case of reporters, photographers, etc. who can be expected not to obey the cautions and instructions designed to ensure their safety."
It was more important to deal with the trustees of the pillar. A memo of that same meeting notes the possibility that the trustees had no basic documents in relation to their status.
If they were told the rest of the pillar was to be blown up, the trustees, the memo said, might look for an injunction to prevent it.
Eventually, the trustees were, indemnified by the government against being sued for breach of trust or for damages. A note in the Department file says:
"The trustees apparently are anxious for this indemnity so that they will be protected against claims from any pro British elements which may endeavour to require them to restore the pillar."
Suggestions as to what should be done with the pillar site were sent from people in Ireland and abroad, some of whom regarded the destruction of the pillar as a patriotic act.
These included statues of Michael Collins, St Patrick or Patrick Pearse, a winged figure, an eternal flame "to commemorate all who died for Ireland" and an underground chapel as a 1916 memorial.
In the event, all the helpful suggestions came to nothing as the pillar site was left vacant.