We all love a cold case and they don’t come more politically sensitive and engrossing than the murder of Michael Collins who, nearly a century after his death, still stimulates huge and divisive passions in the Republic. There was no inquest into the death of Collins, no death certificate was issued, and the autopsy report was lost. Did Éamon de Valera, who was in the area, know that the attack was planned, as was implied in Neil Jordan’s 1996 film? The assassination of Michael Collins, if that is what it was, is one of the foundation myths of the State and it resonates to this day. If RTÉ can produce clarity with the help of experts and science they will do the nation a favour and the understated memorial at Béal na Bláth and the Michael Collins Centre at Clonakilty will be among grateful beneficiaries for the missing piece in the jigsaw.

Source: Irish Examiner October 02, 2021 04:07 UTC