Sir, – Apropos Frank McNally’s comment on the Cruiskeen Lawn reprint (October 27th), I have a story which may, or may not, relate to the “forced early retirement” of Myles.
At about that time (1953), my wife-to-be and I were friendly with one of the daughters of Paddy Ruttledge, then minister for local government. We called to the Ruttledge family home in Blackrock to collect his daughter to go to some social event. We were received by the Minister and, while waiting for his daughter to appear, he chatted generally to us. He told us of an incident relating to Myles who was then, or had been, working with the Minister in the Custom House. One morning, they had some disagreement and the Minister banished Myles to his room “until I send for you”. Later in the day, the Minister sent a rather peremptory note to Myles reading, “The Minister is now in his room”. The messenger came back with the same note to which Myles had added “So is Mr O’Nualláin”. Could that have caused, or contributed to, a forced early retirement? – Yours, etc,