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CSO/RP/SC/1825/481

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on a communication concerning an alleged attempt to burn the town of Ballaghaderin [Ballaghaderreen] in County Mayo. Returns letter from Conyngham Ogilvie, preventive surveyor of excise, Ballaghaderin, to Goulburn, complaining of a ‘most diabolical’ scheme to set the town ablaze. He observes an incendiary was placed in the cow house of Patrick Banks, and also in his turf clamp, which is located about the town centre. Some nights previous, he observes, a number of men assembled in the vicinity of the barracks, and on departure fired a shot out of a gun ‘in triumph’. A great impediment to the primacy of law and order in the district, he remarks, is the lack of a resident magistrate, for the number of policemen or militia in the area are ‘too few…to keep the factions in awe’.

23 Dec 1824-8 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/482

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Sligo, County Sligo, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, referring to a private letter from ‘a very intelligent & active magistrate’ of County Clare [not present]. He asks that an enclosure with that letter be returned to him [likely written by Bindon Blood, magistrate and high sheriff for County Clare].

7 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/483

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Palmerston, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Mr [William] Smith, chief constable of police, Rathkeale, County Limerick, outlining the negative ramifications of the refusal of the military party stationed at Glin to assist in police business without the company of a magistrate. Should such cooperation between the civil and military authorities cease, he predicts an increase in lawlessness in the neighbourhood. Also letter from JF Massy [Massey], local magistrate, Cloughanold [Cloghanarold], Rathkeale, explaining his actions in releasing a number of prisoners who were detained by police for rioting near the town of Askeaton in County Limerick. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/479].

5 Jan 1825-10 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/484

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Palmerston, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, indicating his sanction of a request from Richard Balmer, chief constable of barony of Clanwilliam, County Limerick, for leave of absence from police duties. Returns letter from Balmer, Castle Connell, to Goulburn, expressing his desire for leave of absence for one week to travel to Dublin to attend to some ‘pressing’ family business.

6 Jan 1825-10 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/485

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Palmerston, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, acknowledging letter and stating he has written to Mr Keily [chief constable of police, Doneraile, County Cork], to ask for the 'information required’ by government. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/475].

8 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/486

Letter from Edward Wilson, chief police magistrate of County Tipperary, Thurles, County Tipperary, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on the discovery of a subversive Roman Catholic oath in County Tipperary. Returns letter from Lieutenant Colonel J Finch, military secretary to commander of the Forces in Ireland, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, to Goulburn, conveying information on an unlawful oath relating to the establishment of a covert political association of persons of the Roman Catholic persuasion, with power to convene meetings, set regulations, investigate the ‘Sentiments of Strangers’ and keep a secret register of Protestants living in the locality, 30 December 1824. Encloses copy letter from Lieutenant Colonel George Gauntlett, commander, 62nd regiment of foot, Templemore, County Tipperary, enclosing a copy of the ‘oath’ [presented by Timothy Ryan to Mr Sutliffe (or Sutcliffe), cabinet maker of Templemore] which calls upon the signatory to withhold on pain of death the identity of the ‘person or persons that swear me into this holy union’. The person being uninitiated is charged to watch all Protestants and ‘all the Bad Catholics’ and be ready at any time in 1825 to step forward ‘to destroy all Bloody Protestants of every Kind’ [a reference to Pastorini’s prophesy], 28 December 1824.

28 Dec 1824-11 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/487

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Palmerston, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Robert Smylie, chief constable of police, Tralee, County Kerry, reporting on ‘a most desperate riot’ in the town of Tralee. He observes having taken a prisoner, the constables came under a severe attack ‘with sticks, stones and other missiles’ by a large ‘mob of vagabonds’ who were intent on making a rescue. In the heat of the skirmish, one of the assailants received a cut in the head at the hands of a police constable, and was subsequently admitted to the local infirmary. Later at petty sessions, however, two magistrates, Dr P O’Connell and Maurice O’Connor, adjudged the police were guilty of excessive force.

7 Jan 1825-11 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/488

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ennis, County Clare, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on the outcome of a trial of a soldier of the 25th regiment of foot who is charged with administering illegal oaths at O’Brien’s Bridge. He observes ‘after a most patient & laborious investigation’ the accused was acquitted of the crime by a bench of magistrates comprising more than 40 persons at Sixmilebridge. Some discussion also took place, he remarks, on whether or not the Insurrection Act might be withdrawn from the county. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/478].

11 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/489

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police, Palmerston, County Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on a report related to the murder of three members of the Kennealy [Kenneally] family in County Tipperary. Encloses a letter from John Willcocks, chief constable of police in the barony of Middlethird, Cashel, County Tipperary, conveying details of the confession of a servant girl who gave information to himself and Reverend Hubert, a magistrate, on some of the party suspected in the Kennealy murders; he further observes, her submission appears to be truthful and was motivated in part by the refusal of the parish priest to allow her communion. On the state of the country in general, he remarks there are no grounds whatever to support the popular ‘outcry of massacre and Rebellion’, although he notes, ‘the catholic rent is still very regularly collected’ in his district.

8 Jan 1825-12 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/490

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ennis, County Clare, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on the outcome of legal proceedings over which the accused has been exonerated by the court [possibly the trial of a soldier of the 25th regiment of foot who is charged with administering illegal oaths at O’Brien’s Bridge]. He reports the confinement to gaol of the informer, Mr McEnnery [McEnery], and expresses his relief that the magistrates had the assistance of [William] Vesey Fitzgerald, [MP for County Clare and magistrate]. Encloses a copy letter to Mr Corbett referring to an enclosed newspaper with a paragraph on the case made reference to [not present]. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/478].

15 Jan 1825

1825