Funds allocated for RUC garden of remembrance

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland John Reid has announced funding of over £1 million for the construction of a Royal Ulster Constabulary Garden of Remembrance and Museum.

With the RUC now replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Chris Patten author of the Patten Report, recommended that a garden honouring and remembering the officers who had served in the RUC was a fitting and just memorial.

Announcing the financial package on Wednesday November 14, Dr Reid said: “I am delighted to be able to announce the creation of a Garden of Remembrance for the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Patten identified a need for continued recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of the officers of the RUC. I fully support this prestigious and permanent memorial and I look forward to being able to visit it.

“The Garden of Remembrance along with the RUC Museum will draw together both projects into a complete ‘RUC experience’ where visitors can reflect on the sacrifices of the RUC as they walk through the Memorial Garden and visit the many exhibits and displays about the RUC and its history in the Museum.”

Dr Reid also announced the composition of the Boards of Trustees of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation and the Northern Ireland Police Fund.

The Foundation will provide practical recognition of the achievements and sacrifices of the Royal Ulster Constabulary while the work of the Fund will be to bring additional assistance to injured and disabled police officers and retired officers, and their families, as well as police widows, who have been affected by terrorism in Northern Ireland.

The Foundation will be chaired by Jim McDonald, former member of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, and the Police Fund will be chaired by Sir John Semple, former Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. (AMcE)