The following is from a Witness Statement made by Michael J. Feeley, ex - member of the R.I.C., it was completed and signed 27th November 1947, some twenty seven years after the events, for those readers unfamiliar with the Witness Statements, an explanation of the W.S. is under my post on " Q " Co. Auxiliary Division R.I.C.
BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY 1913 - 21 STATEMENT BY WITNESS, DOCUMENT NO. W.S.68
WITNESS
MICHAEL J. FEELEY - IDENTITY - EX - MEMBER OF R.I.C.
SUBJECT
Shooting of Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, March 1920
Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness
TO BE KEPT UNDER SEAL UNTIL 29/11/1972
THOMAS McCURTAIN
A Conference was held at Union Quay Barrack, Cork, on the 19.3.1920. The Conference was called by the Military Authorities to discuss with the Police Authority the I.R.A. activities of Thomas McCurtain, the then Lord Mayor of Cork.
Representing the Police were Divisional Commissioner E.M.Clayton, County Inspector H.B.Maloney, and District Inspector O.R.Swanzy
In the course of the Conference the Military Authority produced evidence to show that Thomas McCurtain was present at an ambush ( which did not come off ) on Lord French, the Lord Lieutenant in Dublin date ( sic).
This the Police Authority were not prepared to admit as their contention was that Thomas McCurtain did not belong to the extreme or military section of the I.R.A.
To support the Police contention I was directed to telephone for Sergeant Gilligan and Sergeant Normoyle the Sergeants in charge of Blackpool Police Station. This I did and both Sergeants attended the Conference.Both Sergeants upheld the Police view and stated that they had no evidence to show that the Lord Mayor was absent from Cork on the date stated.
After some discussion the Military Officers stated that the Conference would come to an end and that they would again consult their INFORMANT pending reaching a final decision.Before the County Inspector left the Office he told me that during the course of the afternoon that I would probably receive a despatch from the Military and if I received such a despatch that I was to deal with it. Shortly before 6 p.m. that same evening a Military Motor Cyclist arrived with a letter from the Competent Military Authority. The despatch was brought up to the Office by the Barrack Orderly, and I signed a receipt for same and the Motor Cyclist took his departure.
I now give hereunder to the best of my knowledge the despatch which stated
" our INFORMANT has again been consulted and he adheres to his original statement that Thomas McCurtain was present at an attempted ambush on Lord French at------- Street in Dublin on ---- "
The despatch further stated that their information was reliable and trustworthy and that their INFORMANT was above reproach as regards his information. In view of this Thomas McCurtain was to be arrested and interned. Two Police were to meet a party of Military at St. Lukes R.I.C. Barrack ( at-----time sic ) and place stated and they were then to proceed to Blackpool to the residence of Thomas McCurtain.
I put the despatch in my pocket and about 7 p.m. that evening I went to the Metropole Hotel, King Street, where the County Inspector was staying. There I met Mr. Maloney, the County Inspector, and showed him the despatch. He read it and handed it back to me and directed me to bring it to Mr. Swanzy. As I knew Mr. Swanzy would probably be at his home ( McTiernans Hotel, Patricks Hill ), I went there with the dispatch, knocked at the door and when opened I asked for Mr. Swanzy. After a short time Miss Swanzy came to me and I told her that I wanted to see her brother. Miss Swanzy told me that her brother had retired to bed, adding at the same time " you are no doubt aware of the fact that he has been out of bed for a number of nights lately as duty at present was very hard " In reply I told her that I was fully aware of this, and I told her that her that I would manage all right and not to trouble any further. I left Miss Swanzy without further talk and withoit aquainting her of the business that brought me there.
I then went to King Street Barrack and inquired for the Head Constable. The Barrack Orderly told me that he was gone to inspect the guard at the Judges Lodgings. The Spring Assizes were on at the time and the Judges were staying somewhere around Tivoli. I waited some time for the Head Constable to return but as he had not done so I asked for the District Inspectors Clerk in order to get the keys of the District Inspectors Office. When I got the keys I went to the Office, got my despatch, placed it in an envelope which I closed and sealed and addressed it to the Head Constable and marked the envelope " STRICTLY SECRET AND ON NO ACCOUNT TO BE OPENED BY ANYONE EXCEPT THE HEAD CONSTABLE " After a short time I left for home.
On my way home I met some police from the country who were in the City for duty at the Assizes. I talked with them for some tome and left for home.
Next morning my wife called me out of bed, and told me that as she was coming home from Mass she saw a number of women reading the Examiner and as she passed she heard them talking about the Police and the Lord Mayor. I got out of bed, got my breakfast and left for Union Quay Barrack. On reaching the Barrack I learned that on the previous night Constable Murtagh of Shandon Barrack was shot near Popes Quay Chapel and also that some time later Thomas McCurtain, the Lord Mayor, was also shot.
(Signed ) Michael J. Feeley
Ex Sergt. R.I. Consty
27th November 1947
P.S.
In view of the military information about Lord Mayor McCurtain being present at the attempted ambush on Lord French, it is interesting to note that in Dan Breens book " His fight for Irish Freedom " he refers to Lord Mayor McCurtain being present at an ambush planned for to meet Lord French in Dublin. This would go to show that the Military had reliable information when they attended the Conference as I have stated on 19.3.1920. Their INFORMANT as they stated was a " reliable man ".
( Intld.) M.J.F.
I should explain about the despatch and the necessity for sealing same that it was important that no policeman except as I have stated should know its contents so that no information could leak out about the pending arrest of Lord Mayor McCurtain, Strict secrecy had therefore to be observed.
( Intld ) M.J.F.
A very informative account, especially about the " INFORMER ", I have not come across this information before and would be interested if anyone has any comments or can tell me anything about M.J.Feeley or anyone else mentioned in the W.S..
C.S.M.
BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY 1913 - 21 STATEMENT BY WITNESS, DOCUMENT NO. W.S.68
WITNESS
MICHAEL J. FEELEY - IDENTITY - EX - MEMBER OF R.I.C.
SUBJECT
Shooting of Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, March 1920
Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness
TO BE KEPT UNDER SEAL UNTIL 29/11/1972
THOMAS McCURTAIN
A Conference was held at Union Quay Barrack, Cork, on the 19.3.1920. The Conference was called by the Military Authorities to discuss with the Police Authority the I.R.A. activities of Thomas McCurtain, the then Lord Mayor of Cork.
Representing the Police were Divisional Commissioner E.M.Clayton, County Inspector H.B.Maloney, and District Inspector O.R.Swanzy
In the course of the Conference the Military Authority produced evidence to show that Thomas McCurtain was present at an ambush ( which did not come off ) on Lord French, the Lord Lieutenant in Dublin date ( sic).
This the Police Authority were not prepared to admit as their contention was that Thomas McCurtain did not belong to the extreme or military section of the I.R.A.
To support the Police contention I was directed to telephone for Sergeant Gilligan and Sergeant Normoyle the Sergeants in charge of Blackpool Police Station. This I did and both Sergeants attended the Conference.Both Sergeants upheld the Police view and stated that they had no evidence to show that the Lord Mayor was absent from Cork on the date stated.
After some discussion the Military Officers stated that the Conference would come to an end and that they would again consult their INFORMANT pending reaching a final decision.Before the County Inspector left the Office he told me that during the course of the afternoon that I would probably receive a despatch from the Military and if I received such a despatch that I was to deal with it. Shortly before 6 p.m. that same evening a Military Motor Cyclist arrived with a letter from the Competent Military Authority. The despatch was brought up to the Office by the Barrack Orderly, and I signed a receipt for same and the Motor Cyclist took his departure.
I now give hereunder to the best of my knowledge the despatch which stated
" our INFORMANT has again been consulted and he adheres to his original statement that Thomas McCurtain was present at an attempted ambush on Lord French at------- Street in Dublin on ---- "
The despatch further stated that their information was reliable and trustworthy and that their INFORMANT was above reproach as regards his information. In view of this Thomas McCurtain was to be arrested and interned. Two Police were to meet a party of Military at St. Lukes R.I.C. Barrack ( at-----time sic ) and place stated and they were then to proceed to Blackpool to the residence of Thomas McCurtain.
I put the despatch in my pocket and about 7 p.m. that evening I went to the Metropole Hotel, King Street, where the County Inspector was staying. There I met Mr. Maloney, the County Inspector, and showed him the despatch. He read it and handed it back to me and directed me to bring it to Mr. Swanzy. As I knew Mr. Swanzy would probably be at his home ( McTiernans Hotel, Patricks Hill ), I went there with the dispatch, knocked at the door and when opened I asked for Mr. Swanzy. After a short time Miss Swanzy came to me and I told her that I wanted to see her brother. Miss Swanzy told me that her brother had retired to bed, adding at the same time " you are no doubt aware of the fact that he has been out of bed for a number of nights lately as duty at present was very hard " In reply I told her that I was fully aware of this, and I told her that her that I would manage all right and not to trouble any further. I left Miss Swanzy without further talk and withoit aquainting her of the business that brought me there.
I then went to King Street Barrack and inquired for the Head Constable. The Barrack Orderly told me that he was gone to inspect the guard at the Judges Lodgings. The Spring Assizes were on at the time and the Judges were staying somewhere around Tivoli. I waited some time for the Head Constable to return but as he had not done so I asked for the District Inspectors Clerk in order to get the keys of the District Inspectors Office. When I got the keys I went to the Office, got my despatch, placed it in an envelope which I closed and sealed and addressed it to the Head Constable and marked the envelope " STRICTLY SECRET AND ON NO ACCOUNT TO BE OPENED BY ANYONE EXCEPT THE HEAD CONSTABLE " After a short time I left for home.
On my way home I met some police from the country who were in the City for duty at the Assizes. I talked with them for some tome and left for home.
Next morning my wife called me out of bed, and told me that as she was coming home from Mass she saw a number of women reading the Examiner and as she passed she heard them talking about the Police and the Lord Mayor. I got out of bed, got my breakfast and left for Union Quay Barrack. On reaching the Barrack I learned that on the previous night Constable Murtagh of Shandon Barrack was shot near Popes Quay Chapel and also that some time later Thomas McCurtain, the Lord Mayor, was also shot.
(Signed ) Michael J. Feeley
Ex Sergt. R.I. Consty
27th November 1947
P.S.
In view of the military information about Lord Mayor McCurtain being present at the attempted ambush on Lord French, it is interesting to note that in Dan Breens book " His fight for Irish Freedom " he refers to Lord Mayor McCurtain being present at an ambush planned for to meet Lord French in Dublin. This would go to show that the Military had reliable information when they attended the Conference as I have stated on 19.3.1920. Their INFORMANT as they stated was a " reliable man ".
( Intld.) M.J.F.
I should explain about the despatch and the necessity for sealing same that it was important that no policeman except as I have stated should know its contents so that no information could leak out about the pending arrest of Lord Mayor McCurtain, Strict secrecy had therefore to be observed.
( Intld ) M.J.F.
A very informative account, especially about the " INFORMER ", I have not come across this information before and would be interested if anyone has any comments or can tell me anything about M.J.Feeley or anyone else mentioned in the W.S..
C.S.M.
