Selective reasoning when it comes to 1916

Nothing illustrates how selective we can be on the question of 1916 than the following story which is, apparently, quite true.

Having taken over the GPO, Connolly told The O’Rahilly to take a Dublin Metropolitan Policeman, who happened to be on duty in the GPO, outside and shoot him.

Bear in mind that the DMP were unarmed. The O’Rahilly took the man outside and let him go.

On foot of this story, The O’Rahilly is being praised for humanely taking the view that there was no justification whatsoever for shooting this man, which is fair enough, but where is the condemnation of Connolly for thinking that he had the right to have this unarmed policeman shot in the first place?

Brendan Casserly

Bishopstown, Cork