An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VEtERAN'S NEWS VEtERAN'S NEWS VEtERAN'S NEWS by SUPERINTENDENT FERGUS DWYER, UNPOL S4 COMMANDER IN thE SERVICE oF PEACE UNFICYP S peech on St Patrick's Day 2015 by Superintendent Fergus Dwyer, UNPoL S4 Commander and Garda contingent commander in Cyprus serving with UNFICyP, to an international audience which was attended by the Irish Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr Nicholas twist, and the Chief of Mission, Ms Lisa buttenheim. Superintendent Fergus Dwyer draws on his previous Defence Forces service with the 5 Inf bn, in Collins bks, Dublin and his overseas service in Lebanon with A Coy, 56th Irish bn, UNIFIL in the early eighties before embarking on a career in An Garda Síochána. On behalf of my colleagues in the Irish Police contingent, I have the honour to speak to this distinguished assembly as we celebrate Ireland's national day and the presentation of the UN peacekeeping medals to the Irish Police contingent. We are delighted to be able to welcome so many of you from all over the world to join in our celebration today. St Patrick came to Ireland in the 5th century preaching Christianity. In his work St Pat- rick used the shamrock, our national emblem that we wear today, to explain the holy trinity. The three leaves representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. As our President once said, "St Patrick's life was one defined by a great spirit of friend- ship, generosity and concern for his fellow citizen. It was that great spirit which led to him becoming our patron saint and a man whose name is synonymous with a version of irishness of which we remain very proud." I would like take this opportunity to pay tribute to my colleagues in UNPOL for their hard work, dedication to duty and friendship. It is interesting to note that today the UNPOL component here in Cyprus consists of eleven different nationalities. With our combined cultures and experiences UNPOL here in UNFICYP is truly representative of the international community working in the service of peace under the blue flag of the United Nations. It is indeed an honour for my Irish colleagues and I to serve in such a police service. I previously served with this mission some fifteen years ago and the improvements over that time are clearly evident. In particular I note the easing of restrictions at the crossing points which enables people to move freely across the divide. Freedom of movement, as we know, is one of our basic fundamental human rights. The joint communications room in Nicosia is another notable achievement. Thirty years ago on this very day I was serving as a young soldier with the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL). I served in the hills of south Lebanon less than 300km from where I stand today. The names of the villages where I served Haris, Scribben, Yatar and Tibnin will forever be ingrained in my mind. It was a difficult time as the efforts of the Israeli Defence Force to consolidate their position in the region were constantly being hampered by the Amal militia a precursor to today's Hezbollah. But my one abiding memory of that time was the sight of the small school bus that used to pass through our check point each morning taking the local children to school. The children were always smiling and waving as they passed. Over the last thirty years as Lebanon endured many wars and much suffering, I always thought of those children and what be- came of them. I had cause to think of those same children again recently when my UNPOL colleagues and I encountered difficulties at the site of an unauthorised construction in Pyla. The site is situated adjacent to a local school and over the days as we attempted to resolve the dispute I would often see the children coming and going to school. As they did so, I could not help but think of the many generations of children who attended that school and grew up in an environment vastly different to the environment experienced by the children I saw in Lebanon. The environment of peace and stability being experienced by the children who attend that school in Pyla today and the generations that went before them was brought about thanks to the commitment of the two communities on the island and the hard work and determination of UNFICYP. As we carry out our duties each day on this mission it is imperative that we never become complacent nor should we ever lose sight of the task at hand. And, most importantly, we must be ever mindful of the very very thin line that divides peace and conflict… An Garda Síochána members with UNFICYP Chief of Mission, Ms Lisa Buttenheim and Superintendent Fergus Dwyer front right. Fergus Dwyer in Haris, South Lebanon circa 1980s. UNPOL patrol in Cypus.

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