Post any queries and comments relating to Irish policing post-1922 here.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Questions and comments |
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Post any queries and comments relating to Irish policing post-1922 here.
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 26-Sep-2009 1:51 PM.
Edited 1 time.
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mmckenna |
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I am researching the death of Bobbie Bonfield in 1923 who was a distant cousin of mine for my family archives. Bonfield was apparently killed by the CID in Oriel House.
As far as I can piece together Bonfield assassinated former TD James O'Dwyer (aka Seamus Dwyer) in his shop in Terenure/Rathmines towards the end of 1922. O'Dwyer was one of the founders of the Citizens Defense Force which was headquartered in Oriel House and a close friend of Michael Collins. In March 1923 on Holy Thursday, Bonfield was on his way to UCD in Earlsfort Terrace and bumped into a group of men accompanying President WT Cosgrave as he visited a number of churches in the city centre as part of his Holy Week observances. This group included Joe McGrath, Head of the CID which was also headquartered in Oriel House, a Cmdt. O'Reilly and one or two other unnamed Guards. Bonfield was recognised and after a short struggle (wittnessed by Cosgrave) he was dragged away by members of the goup in the direction of Oriel House. Less than 2 hours later he had been shot in Clondalkin. I am looking for the following pieces of information to flesh out the tale......... 1. James O'Dwyer, Bonfields' victim - does anyone know anything about him? 2. There is a scrap of evidence that indicates that Kevin Barry knew Bonfield and that he met Bonfield with the 'MacNeill Boys' at a concert prior to the civil war. The two MacNeill's chose different paths in the Civil War and there is a mention of Niall MacNeill in the Wikipedia article about Oriel House - was he stationed there and what was he involved with? Was he the officer who shot Joe Hudson after he had surrendered in Dun Laoghaire as seems to be implied by the article. 3. Joe McGrath has a grisly reputation, but I can find no specific information about his personal activities while in charge of the CID. In fact there is a dearth of information about McGrath which is odd for someone with such a high profile career both during the war years and later with the Irish Sweepstakes. 4. Was a Cmdt. O'Reilly a member of the CID, was he stationed at Oriel House and how can I find out anything about him? 5. The killings of the Oriel House Gang are documented, but I can't find any first hand descriptions of the 'torture' that they were involved in, other than Republican Tom Derrig who had his eye shot out under interrogation. 6. How can I find a photo of Bonfield? There must be one somewhere...... 7. Apparently there is a memorial in Clondalkin to mark the spot where he was shot but I can't find either a photo or a location for it. Is there a register of such monuments? 8. Bonfield graduated from Na Fianna Éireann to the ranks of the IRA in 1918 when he was about 15 or 16. I can't find any information about his activities between then and the assassination of O'Dwyer. Any suggestions about where to look? Bonfield lived on Moyne Road in Ranelagh so presumably he would have joined an IRA Brigade in that area All suggestions gratefully received. Mike mckennam@gmail.com |
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ballyroughan |
Bobbie Bondfield ( A Note ) | #2 | ||
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Mike, from the few notes i have on B.Bondfield, he was a member of, Fourth Battalion, Dublin Brigade, and i am sure i have seen a photo mass card of him, but don't know where.
Also, see:- "Dublin made me " by C.S.Andrews pub 1979. plus "Survivors" by Uinseann Mac Eoin, 2nd Edition, Dublin 1987 ( pages,407-408-409-410).
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 13-Jan-2012 9:17 PM.
Edited 3 times.
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