I WISH to compliment Dan Buckley for his excellent article on Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty (‘The Vatican’s Elusive Pimpernel," February 27).
I had seen the movie many times starring Gregory Peck and indeed it was a firm favourite of my late father, Miah O’Regan. It was not uncommon for him to rent it several times in one week and in the end I gave it to him as a birthday present.
Msgr O’Flaherty’s sister was Bride Sheehan, who was married to an ironmonger in Caherciveen, Co Kerry. Many years ago I researched the forced landing of a Luftwaffe Junkers JU88 at Mastergeeha, Waterville, on December 26, 1941.
After the crew set fire to the aircraft they were invited by a Mr Casey, the local national teacher living nearby, to have tea with him while awaiting the arrival of the Irish army and internment at the Curragh camp.
When the army arrived on the scene there was consternation to find the smouldering remains of the aircraft and no sign of the crew until it was discovered they were nearby having tea with Mr Casey.
Later, one or perhaps two of the aircraft’s engines were purchased for scrap value by a Mr Sheehan of Caherciveen – the brother-in-law of Msgr O’Flaherty So, while he was saving the lives of thousands in German-occupied Rome his brother-in-law had the remains of Luftwaffe (German air force) engines in his backyard in Kerry.
Gerard O’Regan ‘Bláth na Gréine’ Ballinlough Road Cork
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, March 15, 2010
