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Security code red as Queen visits British Army massacre site

Croke Park venue saw fourteen Irish civilians shot in 1920

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7:07 AM

Updated Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 10:24 AM

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43 Comments

The Queen visits the Long Room: The Queen at Trinity College Dublin Tuesday.

Photo by John Stillwell/Pool/Getty Images

The Queen of England will visit Croke Park today – and security chiefs fear more disturbances at the home of the GAA.

The English monarch will witness exhibition hurling and football matches at the site of the original Bloody Sunday atrocity.

British forces invaded Croke Park and killed 14 people including Tipperary player Michael Hogan on Sunday, November 21st 1920.

The Queen’s visit to Croke Park is seen as another symbolic gesture the day after she laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance in honor of the leaders of the 1916 Rising.

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But security chiefs fear Republican sympathizers will use the Croke Park visit to mount further demonstrations against the presence of a British Queen on Irish soil.

A police spokesman said: “The level of security evident on Tuesday will continue throughout the Queen’s visit to Ireland, including her visit to Croke Park on Wednesday.”

Irish police will also maintain their high alert for protests when the Queen makes a number of other public appearances in Dublin today.

Her itinerary includes a tour of the Guinness hop store, an official visit to government buildings, a wreath laying ceremony at the Irish War Memorial Garden in Islandbridge and a state dinner at Dublin Castle.

Security was tight overnight as the Queen and her husband Prince Phillip rested at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.

Meanwhile, a total of 20 people were charged with public order offences after demonstrations marked the opening day of the Royal visit on Tuesday.

Police chiefs expect further disruption across a series of events on Tuesday as dissident Republicans attempt to disrupt the visit once again.

Security chiefs have repeated that peaceful protests will be facilitated, but will be positioned well back from the venues the Queen is due to visit today.

Any breaches of the peace or violent demonstrations will be met with a robust response, with the riot squad on standby.

Nster.com

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43 Comments

15 - 43 | See all comments

DaithiSuibhne | May 20, 2011, 02:40 PM EDT

Mick-Your name must rhyme with sick,because your comment nauseates me. I pity your forgetfulness of all the atrocities 'Mother England' has burdened us Irish with.

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DaithiSuibhne | May 20, 2011, 02:36 PM EDT

Mick-Your name must rhyme with sick, because your comment nauseates me. I pity your forgetful mind of all the atrocities that 'Mother England' has burdened us Irish with.

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seanomelbourne | May 19, 2011, 09:33 PM EDT

Pass me the tissues Mick

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Mick10000 | May 19, 2011, 02:59 PM EDT

"Now the music's gone, but still they carry on. For their spirit's bruised, never broken. They will not forget, but their hearts are set on tomorrow and peace once again. What's done is done what's won is won, what's lost is lost and gone forever. I can only pray for a bright, brand new day..." P. Coulter She's trying her best. Be the bigger nation and put down the ancient grudge.

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antoman | May 19, 2011, 11:34 AM EDT

deburca*

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antoman | May 19, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT

@dedurca-You are a member of another site.You've told the members there that you are deburca here.The owner/moderator of that site knows the password you use and would I be correct in saying you use the same password here to log in?The owner/moderator is using your acct to leave comments here.Change your password.

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OrenTruitt | May 19, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

Has the British government ever admitted responsibility? NO! Even if they did not order the shooting, they were responsible by placing the troops IN IRELAND. Have they ever made any reparations for the murders, rapes, burnings, beatings? NO! Have they ever apologized? NO!

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deburca | May 19, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT

This is the second time I've seen a comment attributed to me that I did NOT make. The comment: "Is ANYONE else sickened by the fact that all of Croke Park had to be kept EMPTY? " Was not written by me nor was it posted by me but it is attributed to me. Who is monitoring these comments and why has this happened to me two times? Has anyone else had this problem?

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maireadinmelb | May 19, 2011, 05:56 AM EDT

It was a massacre by british forces!! On the british payroll! Under British Orders!!!

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seanomelbourne | May 19, 2011, 02:45 AM EDT

Swinford defending the indefensible

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hancock | May 18, 2011, 11:39 PM EDT

Kind of like the Paras. Were they mostly Irish and Catholic too?

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hancock | May 18, 2011, 11:07 PM EDT

Dervan's article above refers to the "British Army Massacre" at Croke Park in Nov. 1920. I have seen this same reference dozens of times over the past few days, even in reputable newspapers. It is part of our heroic mythology and like so much of our history it is false. Of course to say that this was a deliberate murderous act of the British Army fits neatly into our victimhood/grievance narrative. No British soldier fired a single shot at Croke Park because no British soldier was there. The panic firing was done by the RIC and its newly attached Auxiliary Division (ADRIC). The Auxiliaries were mostly former British Army officers sent to Ireland to beef up the RIC. Their behavior appalled British and Irish alike. A majority of the RIC, outside the North, was Irish and Catholic and it did most of the shooting in Croke Park. Several official inquiries into the massacre found that (i) It was not authorized at any level of command and (ii) it was unprovoked and inexcusable. These findings were suppressed by the British government until the year 2000. In short, a number of police and "temporary constables" (the Auxies), ill-disciplined and with poor command, in a highly volatile environment (they were there to look for some of Collins' hit team who were believed to have come up from Tipperary for a special mission and were 'hiding out' as fans)and lost it. Remember, all it takes is for one guy to fire and the rest will mindlessly follow suit.

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oaklongan | May 18, 2011, 08:47 PM EDT

JoanMurphy: God Love You! You said IT ALL! BEST LAUGH ALL WEEK.

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joanmurphy | May 18, 2011, 07:58 PM EDT

as for the old girl...her proper name is the wicked witch of the kingdom ..or Pac man from the wedding in her lovely yellow outfit... probably made by english indentured servants in India.

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seanomelbourne | May 18, 2011, 07:50 PM EDT

What a nest of cringing plastic Irish we have on this site.They are almost salivating at the site the royal tragic.I suggest you get off your knees and stop acting like a bunch of beaten peasants.

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