The families of people who died in the 1916 rising have appealed to Minister Alan Shatter to lift a ban he has imposed on Defence Force members taking part officially in a commemoration Mass for the rising.
According to the Irish Catholic, Cara O’Neill, whose grandmother was in the GPO during Easter week 1916, said that the families of those who fought in the rising are “deeply offended” by Minister Shatter’s decision and “at a loss as to the justification for it.”
Mr Shatter first placed the ban on the Defence Forces’ participation in the Mass last year, claiming the military ceremonial element was removed on the basis that it was “no longer considered appropriate that military personnel would be requested to perform such a role in a religious ceremony”. The Minister also banned members of the Defence Forces from participating in the procession of the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin.
Ms O’Neill said that “the commemoration holds great significance for those of us privileged to be connected to it by virtue of the achievements of our relatives and it was not within the gift of any holder of political office to simply cut a swathe through its traditions.”
Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who has been working closely with the 1916 families, said that that there was no consultation with the families before Mr Shatter made his decision. “The ceremony has been going on for decades, so it should have been discussed with the families of the 1916 heroes before any decision was taken” he said.