Gardaí up in arms over order to shift Sacred Heart

BLESS them Father for they have sinned. The boys in blue have blown the whistle on the Office of Public Works (OPW) after it took it upon itself to act as religious police.

The real law enforcers have been praying for divine intervention since an official from the OPW told them to remove a picture of the Sacred Heart from part of a garda station.

The official claimed it might offend non-Christians, especially as Ireland had recently become a "multicultural society". But as far as the Garda Síochána is concerned, there will be no moving statues, or pictures, after 20 members of the force signed a petition against the OPW order.

Angry gardaí in Cobh, Co Cork, said the picture not only represented a religious symbol but was part of their heritage it was brought to the town by the first gardaí who arrived there in 1922. The cherished picture was restored ten years ago and rededicated during a Mass in the station. But three weeks ago when gardaí moved to a new station they were told to move the Sacred Heart from the public office to somewhere where it would be less conspicuous.

John Relihan, a recently retired garda who served in Cobh for 31 years, said he was shocked and dismayed by the OPW's attitude.

"I'm completely amazed. I can't find any reason why anyone would find it offensive in any way. I never heard any member of the public say they were offended by it, but I did hear them say they admired it," he said.

An Office of Public Works spokeswoman said: "It was felt it wouldn't be appropriate in the context of dealing with people in a public building in a multicultural society. It's a large, modern building and there are a number of other rooms, so maybe they could consider putting it somewhere else."

Cobh's mayor, Cllr Stella Meade, backed the gardaí. "I fully support them; it's something they've had since 1922 and therefore it's sentimental as well as religious. I can't imagine anybody being offended," Cllr Meade said.

Diocese of Cloyne spokesman Fr Jim Killeen said: "We would be happy if the wishes of the gardaí are respected. Religious images can present some difficulties for some people, but we believe it's probable in this particular case that more people would be offended if the picture was removed."