Post-1922 Irish Policing

Early Gardai in Cork 1926

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:44:54 PST

Two nice photos of a member of the early Gardai Siochana, Cork 1926. This is William J Woods, son of Sergeant Meryn R Woods of the DMP.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/w77t/3908871687/in/pool-634483@N20/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/w77t/3910072042/in/pool-634483@N20/

(by kind permission of 'Painting in Light', Flickr, all rights reserved)

Citizens Defence Force

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:41:00 PST

A badge of the Citizens Defence Force 1922-23

Based in Oriel House, Westland Row, Dublin. They were an armed organisation and were composed of some 101 former British officers (full time), and 50 part time, organised on military police lines and semi-secret, but concerned with special guard and intelligence work or duties.

They duplicated some of the work of the Protective Corps (who guarded Government buildings, the GPO, large banks and several government Ministers, Senators and their homes). They never revealed their names when submitting reports, using a personal number instead. (see File S1411, Taoiseach's Dept. at National Archives)
The cost of the CID and the Protective Corps was provided for in the CID estimates. The CDF was provided for under the Secret Service estimates. (File S.1681, Taoiseach's Dept, NA)

On 27th March 1923 Frank...

Oriel House CID warrant badge

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:54:30 PST

An Oriel House Criminal Investigation Department badge, 1922 - 23.

The CID was created by Michael Collins and many of its personnel were former Irish Republican Army fighters whom he had commanded during the Irish War of Independence. In particular, a number came from the Squad, a Dublin based IRA assassination unit. The unit had close links with the Army Intelligence and with a smaller 'Protective Corps' which was based in the same building, Oriel House on Westland Row, Dublin. Initially, they were put under the command of Liam Tobin. On 31 July 1922, it was taken out of the control of military intelligence and put under the brief of TD Joseph McGrath. Its commanding officer was Captain Pat Moynihan. Moynihan was...

Póilini Átha Cliath Helmet Plate

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:52:36 PST

This force, the successor to the DMP, existed from 1922 to 1925, after which it was amalgamated with the Garda Siocána.

This is an Officers pattern, sterling silver marked helmet plate

The Garda Siochana Remembrance Medal

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:04:31 PST

This new medal was presented to the families of each of the 83 Garda killed whilst on duty from the inception of that force. It was issued at a ceremony on 15th May 2010 to open a memorial garden in Dublin Castle, dedicated to the officers killed in the Royal Irish Constabulary, Dublin Metropolitan Police and Garda Siochana.

Ulster Constabulary. - Enrolment Terms. 1922.

feeds@yuku.com (ballyroughan) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:56:14 PST

ULSTER CONSTABULARY.

Applications for enrolment in the Ulster Police will now be received. Recruitment will, without distinction of creed, be open to all members of the Royal Irish Constabulary throughout Ireland, and the Special Constabulary, and to a limited number of the D.M.P.

The rates of pay, of allowances, and of pensions are those as fixed by the R.I.C. Pay Order, 1920, the R.I.C. Allowances Order, 1920, and the R.I.C. Pensions Order, 1922, with the special concessions set out below.                  ...

The Scott Medal - a Ballybay recipient

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:38:43 PST

From "At the Ford of the Birches - The History of Ballybay, its Peoples and Vicinity", James & Peadar Murnane, 1999 -

St Patrick's Churchyard, Ballybay:

In Loving Memory of Liam Maguire, Ex-Garda Sgt, Ballybay, died on 23rd October 1993 aged 66 years, Rest in Peace

Sgt Maguire was awarded the Scott Medal for bravery.

Obituary from a Cavan newspaper:
Death of Sergeant Liam Maguire Ballybay at the age of 67. Hero of the 1952 All Ireland Final when he joined his brother Father Dessie on the Cavan team at right half back while his younger brother Brendan at 17 lined out for Meath at centre field. Born in Bingfield Crossdoney and played Senior football with Cornafean Oldcastle and Ballybay Pearse Brothers. Joined the Garda Siochana in 1957 and posted to Julianstown County Meath later posted to Ballybay where he spent 36 years on the beat. Great interest in youth and under age...

A trial helmet plate for the early RUC

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:34:30 PST

On the creation of the new Northern Ireland police force in 1922, different patterns of badge were proposed for wear on the helmets, caps and uniforms of the constabulary. One of the proposals involved establishing County or Divisional Forces based on the UK model, but this was discounted as being impractical given the smaller nature of the Northern Counties and the wider security implications.
This is a trial helmet plate for the 'North West Tyrone Constabulary'. It was based on the old RIC plate. An example was made up for each of the Counties/Divisions. In the event the badge was not adopted, nor was the use of the helmet continued.

By kind permission of Ballyroughan

A Tribute to the RUC

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:10:41 PST

A powerful video tribute to the RUC. You'll need your speakers turned on to appreciate this fully.

Garda Sergeant & Drill Instructor Dick Hearns

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:34:35 PST

Sergeant Richard (Dick) Hearns joined the Garda in 1928 aged 21, having previously served in the Irish Army where he had qualified as a physical training instructor. He became interested in boxing and entered a number of contests near his native Ballina. Garda Commissioner Eoin O'Duffy heard about his boxing prowess, and being keen to promote the sport in the force, ensured that Hearns was taken on as a recruit. He was a boxer in the Garda from 1928 until 1939 and then served as Drill Instructor for new recruits at the Garda Depot in Phoenix Park, Dublin from 1939 to 1964 when he retired.

This scene taken around 1930 in Ballina and shows Hearns with a collection of trophies, his sister in the background.

With thanks to forum member The Third Policeman, whose photo this is.

Sgt Dick Hearns

Questions and comments

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:00:14 PST

Post any queries and comments relating to Irish policing post-1922 here.