Hidden history or hidden agenda?

DR Pat Muldowney’s letter (October 29) on RTÉ’s Hidden History programme (October 23) was valuable at the time and has become of even greater importance subsequently.

Dr Muldowney provided clear contemporary evidence that the two young members of the Pearson family, killed by the IRA at Coolacrease, Co Offaly, on June 30, 1921, had been killed for military, rather than, sectarian reasons. He then explained that his contribution to the RTÉ programme, on that matter, had been excised and that the producers had persisted in portraying the killing of the Pearsons as a sectarian act.

Since the publication of the letter, RTÉ, in the person of Niamh Sammon, director of the programme, and Eoghan Harris, an influential voice on the programme, defended the depiction of the Pearson killings as sectarian on the Joe Duffy Liveline show (November 5).

I would like to add to the evidence submitted by Dr Muldowney.

First, the testimony of Matilda Pearson, the victims’ sister, is valuable. She asked the IRA raiders, who were burning the family home, why they were doing it and received the reply, as recorded by herself, “Don’t think we are doing this because you are Protestants. It is not being done on that account.” These words are taken from the King’s County Chronicle of July 7, 1921, and are found in Alan Stanley’s book on the Pearson family. This was the book that inspired Ms Sammon to direct the programme on the Pearsons and was used by Eoghan Harris to convey the idea the IRA were sectarian killers. Why, it seems reasonable to ask, was this relevant evidence, from their own chosen source, ignored?

Second, the positive interaction between Dáil Éireann and many Protestants during 1919-1921 provides conclusive evidence against the allegation of sectarianism. For example, the National Land Bank, created by the Dáil to tackle the issue of land, was established by Robert Barton. Its leading directors were Erskine Childers and Lionel Smith Gordon. All three were Protestants. Is it credible that the Dáil would have put these men in charge of land reform, if they had wished to drive Protestants from the land?

Another example is provided by the Co-operative Society where, under the direction of Sir Horace Plunkett and George Russell, both Protestants, Catholic farmers worked harmoniously. Another example is to be found with the Irish White Cross Society, founded in January 1921 with the explicit purpose of repairing the damages of war. That Michael Collins, a wanted man, was listed as a trustee did not prevent leading Church of Ireland clergymen, the Jewish rabbi in Dublin, Dr Herzog, the Quaker James Douglas, and many other Catholics and Protestants from working together.

One could go on but sufficient has been said to enforce the case made by Dr Muldowney and to raise grave questions about RTÉ’s programme. Are we dealing with a hidden history or a hidden agenda?

Dr Brian P Murphy

Glenstal Abbey

Murroe

Co Limerick