Early years of Garda Siochana in Athy

This year we celebrate the centenary of the establishment of the Civic Guards later named the Garda Siochana. The new Irish police force was founded following the disbandment of the Royal Irish Constabulary and in it’s early years by and large followed the RIC organisational structure. Like the R.I.C. the early Civic Guards were armed. On the 17th of August 1922 the last R.I.C. men left Dublin Castle to be replaced by the newly appointed Irish police men. The first recruits to the Civic Guards were paid three pounds and three shillings per week and even as they entered the service they were regarded with suspicion by the anti treaty side. Indeed Austin Stack, the former Minister for Home Affairs stated that the setting up of the force was not calculated to promote order but rather suspicion, discontent and disorder. Recruits to the Civic Guards had to have specific height and chest measurements and most significantly had to have a reference from a clergy man. This latter requirement must have continued for some years as my father, a farmers son from north County Longford when he joined the gardai in 1925 did so on foot of a reference given by his Parish priest, Fr. E. Mahon. By 1924 they were 6,300 members of the force which by virtue of the Garda Siochana (Temporary Provisions) Act 1923 were now officially called “Garda Siochana”. When the first contingent of the newly appointed Civic Guards arrived in Athy is still uncertain. The late Sergeant John Shaw who joined the force on the 17th of August 1922 wrote to me from Portarlington in September 1980. In that letter he wrote that on the 15th of August 1922 Civic Guards were sent to Portarlington, Monasterevin, Rathanagan and as far as he knew Athy in order to protect the railway lines and the canal routes to Dublin. He also referenced an incident in Athy on the 26th of August of that year when armed Civic Guards disarmed C.I.D. men in the town. Another piece of information he passed on to me in that letter was that Sergeant Duggan, whom he claimed was then the Athy Sergeant charged three men in a special Court on the 23rd of September. The nature of the offence was not stated but it may have arisen as a result of an armed attack on the premises which was then occupied by the Civic Guards. I also have a copy letter written by the same Sergeant William Duggan in 1950 which confirms that the Civic Guards took up duty in Athy on the 15th of August 1922 but he also explains that prior to that a party of 16 armed Civic Guards were stationed at a protection post in Bert. This I assume was because of ongoing land disputes in the area resulting from evictions on the Verschoyle estate. Sergeant Duggan’s letter names the 16 men as Michael O’Connor, Peter Curley, Thomas Concannon, Joseph Walton, John Kelly, Joseph McNamara, John Ryan, Michael Somers, Patrick Fitzgerald, John O’Neill, James Dwyer, John Hanley, Peter Tracey, Thomas Kirwan, Michael Hassett and himself. The police records once retained at divisional level in the An Garda Siochana showed that the first Sergeant in Athy was Cornelius Lillis who was replaced by Sergeant Ed. O’Loughlin on the 1st of May 1924 and who in turn was replaced by Sergeant William Duggan (the letter writer) on the 1st of August 1924. Sergeant Lillis was accompanied by Civic Guards John Hanley, John Kelly, Patrick Fitzgerald and Joseph McNamara. The records retained by the Garda Siochana, particularly relating to its early years are not as complete as one might expect. The records from which I gleaned the information relating to Sergeant Lillis and his successors were compiled in 1930. When the civic guards first arrived in Athy I understand they were accommodated in the Town Hall before transferring to the old RIC barracks off in Barrack Lane after it was vacated by the Free State army. It has been claimed that the policemen left the old R.I.C. barracks after it had been attacked by anti-treaty forces. I have been unable to verify this although I have an unverified note of an I.R.A. active service unit being caught up in crossfire in August 1922 during an attack on the police barracks in Athy. The police men later moved to a hotel in Leinster Street. Sergeant Duggan claimed that it was the Leinster Arms Hotel. However I have a note of being informed many years ago that the hotel in question was the Hibernian Hotel which is now Bradbury’s premises. This year the centenary of the founding of An Garda Siochana is being marked by various events throughout the country. Athy’s Art Centre will be the venue for a lecture on the history of An Garda Siochana with particular reference to Athy as part of a history lecture series which starts on Tuesday, 20th September at 8pm. Details of the Garda Siochana lecture will be published later. The first lecture on the 20th of September will be given by Nessa O’Mara Cardiff on the Barrowhouse ambush in which James Connor and William Lacey lost their lifes. This lecture and all the future lectures are free and will be held in the Arts Centre at Woodstock Street. FRANK TAAFFE

Sergeant Jim Bergin and the Garda Siochana

EYE ON THE PAST NO. 1492 My friend, Carlow man Seamus Breathnach, wrote the first published history of the Garda Siochana which appeared in the book shops in 1974. Published by Anvil Books it provided a valuable insight into the history of policing in Ireland dealing with the Baronial Constabulary, the Peace Preservation Force, the Royal Irish Constabulary and ending with the Garda Siochana. As a former member of the Garda Siochana Seamus, who was later called to the Irish Bar, drew attention to the lack of concern for the importance of policing within Ireland. Seamus’s book was followed the same year by Conor Brady’s ‘Guardians of the Peace’ in which the future editor of the Irish Times sought to place the Garda Siochana in the Irish historical and political context. He did this by examining the political background to the setting up of the Garda Siochana and the subsequent development of that force. I was reminded of these two important accounts of the Garda Siochana’s early history when I learned of the retirement of Sergeant Jim Bergin who as a young Garda member arrived in the Athy Garda Station just a year after I had arrived back in Athy. Indeed, Jim joined the Garda Siochana in July 1982, exactly one month after my return to Athy after an absence of 21 years. His arrival in Athy coincided with the emergence of the ‘Hole in the Wall gang’ whose activities ensured many hours of investigative work for the Garda Siochana, resulting in several appearances before Judge Seamus Mahon. Jim was promoted to Sergeant after ten years and in recent years he has headed up the Garda station team here in Athy as the station’s Sergeant. It was a position which my late father held for a number of years before he retired in July 1966. When my father transferred to Athy from nearby Castlecomer in 1945 he took up duty with a fine body of men, many of whom had seen service with the Old I.R.A. during the War of Independence. These included Garda Jim Kelly and Garda Johnny McMahon, both from County Mayo, Garda Mick Touhy from Clare and Garda Michael O’Connell. Policing in those days was in many respects very different and more dangerous than it is today. In the year of my birth three Gardai were killed. The first victim who was ambushed and shot outside his home at Ballyboden, Co. Dublin was Sergeant Denis O’Brien. Approximately 3 weeks later Garda Michael Walsh was shot dead in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, while October 1942 saw the third Garda killing with the shooting of Garda George Mordant who was shot dead at Donneycarney in Dublin. Regrettably the Gardai are unlikely to be seen on the streets today, while in my young days all members of the force including sergeants were regularly allocated to ‘beat’ duties. Another noticeable change in modern day policing is the apparent reluctance of today’s Gardai to live in the same town as their Garda station base. These two changes in the local visibility of the Gardai have brought with it a lack of appreciation of the Gardai’s role within the local community and emphasises their separation from that same community. The crime prevention role of the Gardai has been largely overlooked today. It is questionable whether trained Gardai who train for two years before qualifying should be employed in checking motor vehicles and drivers for speeding, insurance, motor tax, NCT certificates, driving licences, etc. The assignments of a substantial number of Gardai to the Road Traffic Corps seems a wasteful use of specialised resources. The general feeling is that it would be better for Gardai to be visible on the streets of our towns fulfilling the primary role of the Gardai which is the prevention of crime. While doing so they would also be acquiring and retaining local knowledge which is so vital in the detection of crime. The Sergeant Jims of this world are not to blame for the current policing practices. We must look further up the chain of command and perhaps also to the politicians to address these issues. Sergeant Jim Bergin now retires after 39 years of service and during his many years in Athy I found him to be an efficient and fair-minded Garda. Unfortunately there are some Gardai who in prosecuting their cases in the Courts see it as their duty to secure a conviction at any odds. In reality their duty as prosecutors is to present the facts, irrespective of whether they are advantageous or otherwise to the accused. Too often have I come across this in Court proceedings, but equally it must be said that the good Gardai who carry out their duties efficiently and properly are hugely in the majority. Sergeant Jim Bergin when he appeared in Court was always fair to those he prosecuted. I wish him well in his retirement and hope that perhaps someone higher up in the ranks might take a hard look at the continuing wastage involving using trained members of the Garda Siochana for what can only be described as mundane road traffic duties. It is time for a radical rethink of how members of the Garda Siochana can be better deployed to the advantage of local communities. FRANK TAAFFE

R.I.C. members killed during the War of Independence and I.R.A. men who joined the Garda Siochana and served in Athy

Between January 1919 and July 1921 425 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were killed and another 725 members wounded in attacks by members of the Irish Republican Army.  Fifteen R.I.C. men were killed in 1919, the first casualties being Constables James McDonnell and Patrick O’Connell who were shot dead at Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary on 21^st January as they escorted three cases of gelignite carried in a horse and cart from Tipperary Military Barracks to Soloheadbeg quarry.  McDonnell was a 57 year old married man from Belmullet, Co. Mayo, while O’Connell was a 39 year old single man from Coachford, Co. Cork. 

 

178 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were killed by the I.R.A. during 1920 and the following year the I.R.A. killed 241 R.I.C. men of whom 235 had lost their lives by the time the truce came into effect on 11^th July 1921.  The disbandment of the R.I.C. commenced on 7^th January 1922 and ended on 31^st August of that year.  Another 59 R.I.C. men would die before the violence came to an end.

 

Among those killed were Joseph Hughes and Edward Doran.  Joseph Hughes of Wolfhill, an R.I.C. Sergeant based in Maynooth, was part of a patrol attacked as it approached the local church in Maynooth on 21^st February 1921.  He died the following day in Dr. Steeven’s Hospital, Dublin.  Aged 34 years he had served in the R.I.C. for twelve years, having been previously employed as a postman.  The Leinster Leader of 5^th March 1921 carried this report, ‘The funeral of Sergeant Hughes to Wolfhill passed through Athy where all shops were closed ….. police with reversed arms marched behind the coffin.  A mourning coach covered with wreaths covered the hearse.  Fr. Byrne officiated.  There was an immense crowd present at the funeral.’ 

 

Edward Doran of Athy was 24 years of age when he was killed with his colleague John Dunne as they served jurors summonses in Kinnity, Co. Offaly on 17^th May 1921.  He had worked as a gardener for Minches prior to joining the Royal Irish Constabulary. 

 

While the disbandment of the R.I.C. which commenced on 7^th January 1922 was still ongoing, the Civic Guards were formed on the 21^st of February 1922 and were formally reconstituted as the Garda Siochana on 8^th August 1923.  Former members of the I.R.A. joined the new police force in large numbers and amongst those were several men who subsequently served in Athy as members of the Garda Siochana. 

 

Garda James Kelly of 27 Offaly Street served as a member of the 5^th Battalion West Mayo Brigade I.R.A.

 

Garda John McMahon of St. Patrick’s Avenue served as a member of the West Mayo Brigade.

 

Garda Michael Tuohy of Offaly Street served as a member of E. Company 4^th Battalion Clare Brigade.

 

Garda John O’Connell of 18 St. Patrick’s Avenue served as a member of H. Company 8^th Battalion 3^rd Tipperary Brigade.

 

Garda Robert Hayes of 6 St. Michael’s Terrace served as a member of F. Company 1^st Battalion 3^rd Cork Brigade.

 

As a young lad growing up in Athy I knew Garda Kelly, Tuohy, McMahon and O’Connell.  They were long serving members of the Garda Siochana, having been based in Athy for decades.  I was not aware, nor I imagine were many others, of the part they played as young men in the War of Independence.  While they all received service medals, otherwise known as Black and Tan medals, it is rather a pity that the community in which they lived did not recognise or appreciate the role they played in a turbulent period of Irish history. 

 

For their part the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, for the most part Irishmen who had joined the force in more peaceful times, bore the brunt of the Republican drive for independence.  After the Sinn Fein election victory of 1918, Sinn Fein, and later the I.R.A., set out to isolate the R.I.C. members who up to then were highly respected within the communities they peaceably served.  The upshot of the War of Independence was the virtual breakdown of law and order in Ireland.  It marked a dark period in Irish history but happily in recent times members and ex members of the Garda Siochana arranged to honour the memory of deceased R.I.C. men.  They too, like the I.R.A. men killed in action, are an honourable part of the story of Irish independence and its martyrs. 

 

The killing and injuring of Irishmen serving as members of the R.I.C. by fellow Irishmen is one of the tragic elements of the Irish War of Independence.  When we come to commemorate the War of Independence we should not only honour those who fought on the side of the republican movement, but also commemorate with respect those policemen who lost their lives in the same struggle.

The Garda Siochana's Role in Policing the Town

When did you last see a member of the Garda Siochana patrolling the streets of Athy?  This was the question I was asked some days ago.  My answer may not have satisfied my questioner but it prompted me to ask the same question of several people during the week.  It was clear that those questioned were unhappy with the present level of Garda presence on the streets of our town. 

The initial question posed to me was apparently prompted by concern at the apparent move away from traditional policing methods in recent years.  Another reason proffered was the failure of senior Garda management to deal promptly or adequately with the paramilitary display witnessed in our capital city earlier in the week.

The primary role of the Garda Siochana is crime prevention and crime detection.  Yet, senior Garda management seem to have prioritised traffic monitoring with the setting up of traffic corps throughout the country.  Here in Athy we have a traffic corps consisting of 10 Gardai and 2 sergeants.  The other station personnel engaged in non traffic duties comprise 16 Gardai, 2 detectives and 3 sergeants.

While accepting that traffic corps personnel can and are sometimes assigned to help their colleagues in non traffic duties, nevertheless the inordinate emphasis on vehicular traffic offences seems strange.  I know that the stock answer given to any questioning of the role of the traffic corps is that they save lives.  Commendable indeed, but the same personnel employed on the ground on regular policing duties would also undoubtedly save lives. 

There is a feeling amongst the general public which I share that senior Garda management, for whatever reason, have decided to take the easy option in terms of result based policing.  Much easier to have Gardai manning check points to uncover motorists using vehicles without tax discs, insurance, NCT Certificates or driving licences than to deal with the many and varied crimes which afflict Irish society.

Some years ago an acquaintance of mine living in Dublin was the victim of a serious crime.  Her apartment was broken into during the day and the thief, although disturbed, still managed to escape with a considerable amount of property.  The crime was immediately reported to the local Garda Station and while a note of the incident was taken there was no apparent follow up.  No member of the Gardai came to the apartment to investigate the crime and no communication was ever received from the Gardai in relation to same.  At the same time Gardai were to be seen every Sunday morning on the dual carriageway near the Red Cow with speed cameras ‘shooting fish in a barrell’ as it was described by one letter writer to the national newspapers. 

Garda priority at the time was obviously concerned with the offence of travelling in excess of 40 mph on the dual carriageway.  Why I wonder – was it as claimed by many that the Gardai were seeking to increase the revenue take from the imposition of penalties?

What the events in Dublin last week indicate is that senior Garda management display a lack of appreciation of their role as guardians of the peace.  It’s a role which cannot and should not be subverted by any group in our society and the failure to deal with the issue at the time reflects badly on the Gardai.

Equally unacceptable is the continuing failure of the Gardai to patrol our streets in keeping with their responsibility to the local community.  Maintaining traffic corps at the expense of community related policing is an error of senior Garda management and needs to be addressed immediately.

One of the measures taken by the local Gardai and the Town Council in recent times was the setting up of a Joint Policing Committee comprising representatives of the Gardai and the Council.  Meetings which are open to the public are held four times a year and the next meeting is scheduled for the Council offices in Rathstewart on Tuesday, 18^th September at 9.00 a.m.  The timing of the meeting is somewhat unusual, given that it is a public meeting and one would expect that to accommodate the public an evening meeting would be more convenient.  However, this in itself might highlight another issue relating to local policing which is the non residency of any local Gardai (except one member) in the town in which they serve.  It’s an issue which can only be noted as there is nothing Garda management can realistically do about it. 

Members of the Garda Siochana have an extremely difficult job to do.  That there is dissatisfaction amongst local people at the absence of regular foot patrols in Athy is I believe largely due to senior Garda management’s failure to realise that traffic control is less a priority for Irish citizens than crime prevention and crime detection.