Developer defends Army guard of honour for St Therese relics
Solicitor and developer Noel Smyth has hit back at criticism of the involvement of the Irish Defence Forces as a guard of honour for the relics of St Therese of Lisieux which have returned to Ireland for a two-month tour.
"If the elite Kremlin Guard can carry the relics of St Therese outside the old KGB building on their way into the Church of St Louis of France in Moscow, I don't see any reason why members of the Irish Defence Forces cannot be involved in this event," he said.
Mr Smyth is a fervent devotee of the saint, known as "The Little Flower" and sponsored the last visit eight years ago.
"I would submit that more than two million Irish people visited the relics in 2001 -- which constitutes a world record per head of population -- and as the Army are in effect employed by the Irish people, it is reasonable to expect that the Army has no difficulty in facilitating and giving respect to the relics, which are such an important part of many people's lives in the country," he added.
The involvement of the Defence Forces, who formed a guard of honour on the arrival of the relics last week, provoked an angry reaction from some who believe it is wrong to involve the State's armed forces in such a venture.
A spokesman for the Defence Forces said that the guard of honour was formed by members of the Reserve Defence Forces, better known as the FCA.
"They were asked if they wanted to be involved individually and they agreed. There were no orders given."
The relics of the 19th-century French saint, who was canonised in 1925, have been placed in a casket before the altar of the Carmelite Church in Dublin's Whitefriar Street for veneration during a special novena that lasts until next Thursday.
- JEROME REILLY
