Taoiseach rules out state inquiry into who shot Michael Collins
Michael Collins. File picture: Getty Images
The Taoiseach says the centenary of Michael Collins' death should be commemorated.
Micheál Martin said the 100 year anniversary since Collins' was ambushed at Béal na Bláth next August should be considered as the "loss of a statesman".
However, he ruled out a state inquiry into who shot the republican leader dead, saying it would be the wrong way to approach the source of controversy.
Collins was killed on August 22 1922 near Béal na Bláth in Co Cork during the Irish civil war.
The identity of the shooter remains a mystery almost 100 years later.
Mr Martin said that he signed off on a plan to put resources into Béal na Bláth to create a proper memorial.
The Taoiseach met the revolutionary leader's family recently and says that their views should be taken into consideration when planning any such commemoration.
"I met the Collins family recently. I was very taken by what Helen, the grandniece of Michael Collins, said. They much prefer Woodfield, the birthplace of Michael Collins than Beál na Bláth because to them Beál na Bláth is a death site," Mr Martin said.
"It's a grave. It has never been appealing to their family, whereas actually I got it when I was at Woodfield. The location is idyllic, where he was born and reared you can almost see him running around those fields.
"I think the Collins' family have an idea, they are certainly of the view that reconciliation is the key objective and they would have had that view a long, long time ago in respect of families in West Cork on the other side.
"I was struck, when I read the [Michael Collins] diaries that we were presented with, that commitment shines through, and indeed it shines through all of the records and archives that have being made available. The Treaty archives are above in Dublin Castle, they're fantastic. So I think we should honour the leaders of that period without fear or favour and do it in a proper way."
Mr Martin said Collins was “an outstanding” Irish leader during the War of Independence.
“All of that generation had extraordinary commitment to the country,” he added.
“I was struck, when I read the [Michael Collins] diaries that we were presented with, that commitment shines through, and indeed it shines through all of the records and archives that have being made available.
“I think we should honour the leaders of that period without fear or favour and do it in a proper way.”
Mr Martin ruled out a historic inquiry into his murder, but said resources have been allocated to curate a memorial at the ambush site.
"I much prefer the work of academics, good, solid, informed histories," he said.
"There'll be many stories written but the idea of setting up a state inquiry would be anathema to me. I think that's the wrong way to approach it.
"That, to me is the more informed way to go about it, to look back on history.
"Let's not approach history with the perspectives of today or with your own prejudices. You should approach history objectively and try to tell the story as it was through the prism of those who were there at the time, and what their impulses were and what their emotions were.
"History is complex. There are many variables, there's never one simplistic narrative. We're all biased to certain extents, to certain degrees."
