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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 1934

Vol. 54 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Saleyard Shooting.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will state under whose direct and immediate control the members of the Gárda Síochána who opened rifle and revolver fire on a body of civilians, about 20 in number, at Marsh's yard in the City of Cork on the 13th August, 1934, killing one man and wounding several others, were at the time of this occurrence; what was the rank at the time, and the length of service of each member of this firing party, and who, if anybody, gave to them the order to fire.

A Chief Superintendent was in direct and immediate control of the members of the Gárda Síochána referred to in the Deputy's question. The rank of each member of the party was Detective-Gárda and the length of service 12 months. No order to fire was given.

Would the Minister then say on what authority these men fired if no order was given to them to fire?

They had to use their own discretion in the circumstances.

Then, are we to understand that every armed guard, whether there is an officer there or not, is to use his own discretion when to fire and when not to fire——

And to fire with deadly effect.

——and to fire to kill?

That was the position in the Deputy's time, when escorts accompanying Ministers had no instructions ever to wait for an order.

I can assure the Minister that in my time no police guard went around and the military guard was always under the control of an officer. Is the Minister going to say that, in future, before young Irishmen are shot down, as they were shot down in Cork, an order, at any rate, will be given by a responsible officer of the Guards?

If people want to commit suicide they can.

Does the Minister claim the right for Guards to shoot at sight anybody whom they like to shoot?

All the circumstances will be taken into consideration.

And to call it suicide?

asked the Minister for Justice whether the members of the Gárda Síochána who opened rifle and revolver fire on a body of civilians, about 20 in number, at Marsh's yard in the City of Cork on the 13th August, 1934, killing one man and wounding several others, have been retained in the Gárda Síochána; and, if so, if the rank of each of them in that force is the same as at the date of this occurrence.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Two members of the party to which the Deputy refers have since been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

So, thereforce, the Minister considers that one of the best ways of getting promotion in the Force is to shoot down the political opponents of the Government.

The best way is to do their duty.

And their duty, according to the Minister, is to shoot the political opponents of the Government, as the jury has found, without justification.

The jury did not find that.

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