HL Deb 10 January 2002 vol 630 c125WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 10 December (WA 177) concerning the police escort for the President of the Republic of Ireland on a recent visit to Belfast removing their remembrance poppies, what function was involved, organised by whom, and whether anyone asked for the removal of the poppies, and, if so, who and why. [HL2003]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The event in question was a GAA function on the evening of 9 November 2001. The organisers of the function, with the interests of the police guard in mind, suggested that poppies might be removed. With the security of the principal and that of the escorts being paramount, the officer in charge made an operational judgment in response to the suggestion.