Finian McGrath
Question:220 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if there are plans to honour a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who stood up for his country and paid the ultimate price. [21466/04]
View answerWednesday, 29 September 2004
Questions (38, 39)
Written answers
The historical events of the mutiny by a considerable number of Irish soldiers serving with the Connaught Rangers in India in 1920 are well known. The person referred to was serving as a private with the regiment in India at the time.
He was executed by firing squad in November 1920 as a result of his involvement in those events. He was the only person executed, as a number of other capital sentences were subsequently commuted.
His father was granted a dependant's allowance under the Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act 1936 until his own death in 1943.
His body was repatriated to Ireland from India and was re-interred at Glasnevin in 1970. The remains of two other Connaught Rangers, who had been killed in the course of the mutiny, were also repatriated and re-interred at the time.
A memorial was erected in Glasnevin cemetery in 1949. The great personal courage and conviction of those involved in the events in India in 1920 has always been freely acknowledged.
Finian McGrath
Question:221 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if there was any complaint from the Indian Embassy about honouring Victoria Cross winner Sergeant Major Coughlan who served in India in 1857 when tens of thousands of Indian nationals of all ages and religions were mass murdered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21467/04]
View answerNo complaint has been received from the Indian Embassy.