Madam, – I want to express my heartfelt condolences to Nessa Childers MEP on the death of her mother, Rita Childers, wife of former president Erskine Childers.
When I wrote my letter (September 9th) after a recent visit to Derralossary graveyard in Co Wicklow and saw Erskine Childers’s grave, I entirely misunderstood the situation. I had not known that this was the resting place of Nessa Childers’s mother Rita Childers, who had passed away so very recently (on May 9th). I am deeply embarrassed not to have known this, due to my absence from Ireland.
I know that opening a family grave and other works leave it in a sorry state for a while.
My letter (September 8th) was written because of my deep admiration for Erskine Childers. When I saw his resting place in such poor condition, I assumed that the responsibility rested with the State, to which he had given such wonderful service.
I know that I have caused Nessa Childers great distress as a result of my misunderstanding of the reasons for the poor state of the grave and I declare openly my deepest apology to her. – Yours, etc,