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CSO/RP/SC/1825/501

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, discussing the rationale for removal of a police officer and a party of constables from the village of Cliffony [Cliffoney] to the town of Sligo in County Sligo. He explains the circumstances of the reallocation and makes reference to a letter from Mr Soden [not present].

15 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/502

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, acknowledging that a divergence of opinion exists amongst the magistrates on the question of placing an additional number of police constables in the barony of Kilmaine in County Mayo. Under the circumstances, he advises, a final decision on the matter could be made at the next [county] assizes 'when all the magistrates of the County will be assembled’.

15 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/503

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting he has made inquiry into a number of complaints made by Cornelius Keogh of the barony of Tirerill in County Sligo. While he finds the charges against the constabulary are without foundation, he acknowledges, the ill advised practice of deploying the police after dark in the execution of warrants against offenders ‘instead of serving them with notice to come in with bail’, 1 February 1825. Also letter from Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, expressing his concurrence with the conclusion of Warburton as to the Keogh’s ‘objects & intentions’. He nonetheless advises further enquiry into the practice of ‘the execution of the Warrants at Night’, 7 December 1824. Encloses a ‘very voluminous’ file of documents [stitched together] comprising a letter from Keogh, St James’s Well, alleging that local magistrates, like William Weir, have engaged in behaviour that has encouraged the spread of those with subversive intent, such as ‘Steel Boys’, ‘Queen Boys’ or Rockites; he continues with a litany of grievances against the authorities citing such irregularities as the use of excessive force by the constables [against his tenants] in enforcing warrants, the uneven [or sectarian] application of justice in the district, and impartiality in the collection of public cess by Weir, 11 September 1824; Keogh also incorporates an additional 12 documents in support of his complaint, which include a transcription of the ballads ‘The White Feather’ by the girls of St James’s Well and ‘The Riverstown Rosary’. [See also description CSO/RP/1824/2099].

10 Dec 1819-1 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/504

Letter from Thomas Whitney, magistrate, Newpass, Rathowen, County Westmeath, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, expressing his concern and opposition to the proposed removal of Mr Davison, chief constable of police, from his district. He stresses his admiration for Davison, who has shown both diligence and good judgement in the discharge of his duties. For the ‘benefit of the Public’, he request the Lord Lieutenant's permission for Davison to remain at his station in Newpass.

16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/505

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, conveying a number of queries on the powers of magistrates and offering remarks on same [for reference to the Constabulary Bill]. Amongst the queries raised is the question of the power of magistrates to direct police constable to serve summons in civil cases; the use of unofficial prison rooms; whether a defendant in cases of assault be permitted to have bail at once rather than depart; the use of force by the police to enter property in night arrests; and the issue of warrants by magistrates to constables in counties other than their own; with responses annotated on side by the Solicitor General of Ireland [Henry Joy]. Encloses [as an example to the queries] a copy warrant from William R Neynoe, magistrate of the barony of Tirerill in County Sligo, instructing the constables to capture a number of men who are accused by Andrew Conlon and Patrick Conlon of assault on the lands of Coollemoneen, 26 August 1824. Also encloses [as an example] a copy warrant from Jarrard Edward Strickland, magistrate of the counties of Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Galway and Westmeath, commanding Bryan Looby, Michael Cummons [both of Arm, County Roscommon] and Thady Kelly of Gortnasillagh, County Roscommon, to appear before him to answer a charge from Anthony MacDonnell, concerning the removal or distrain of a pig, 21 December 1824.

24 Aug 1824-16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/506

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, referring to an enclosure from Captain Warburton, police constable, Scarriff, County Clare, making reference to the apprehension of some offenders who abducted a girl [not present]. Makes mention also of Mr Burke‘s [possibly Sir John Burke, magistrate] advice to Mr Williams, chief constable of police, respecting interference with the people or the Catholic Association in the area.

17 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/507

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on an affray involving some armed parties in the village of [?Kildysart, County Clare]. In a bid to establish peace, the police with military support intervened and two persons were taken into custody. On the occasion in question, he remarks the parish priest took pains to suppress the riot; he also reports on the presence of a considerable quantity of arms in that neighbourhood. From a communication with the chief constable of County Roscommon [TS Ireland], he observes, a number of ‘newly repaired’ arms have been discovered in that county, apparently being prepared for use on the 17th of March.

17 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/508

Letter from Francis Wyse, Marengo Lodge, New Ross, County Wexford, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, requesting to learn if a memorial from John Whelan of Moneytucker in County Wexford, in connection with his complaint against three local magistrates, has been presented before the Lord Lieutenant. He observes, it has now been two weeks since he was informed by government that the magistrates in question have been asked for an explanation on the matter. [See also descriptions CSO/RP/SC/1825/295, CSO/RP/SC/1825/499 and CSO/RP/SC/1825/509].

16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/509

Letter from John Richard Nunn, magistrate, Bowhill, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on an investigation of a complaint against the bench of magistrates of Enniscorthy by John Whelan of Moneytucker in County Wexford. He explains at the heart of the matter is a protracted disagreement over free access by Whelan to a farm that lies amidst a larger land holding in the hands of Jeremiah Fitzhenry [of Ballymackesy]. Legal proceedings, he observes, on a number of occasions were taken by Fitzhenry against Whelan, who has consistently refused to accept court judgements or arbitration; and on three separate occasions Whelan levelled a ditch put up to mark a right of war through Fitzhenry’s land to his own farm. When again called upon to act, the magistrates expressed opinion that Whelan was guilty of a trespass and fined him £3 with 10s costs, or jail for one month; Whelan subsequently gave himself up to the police and accepted jail. Nunn concludes that Whelan’s actions were based on an expectation of having a case against the magistrates and aid from the Catholic Association and assistance from Francis Wyse of New Ross. He reserves particular criticism for the part played by Wyse, whom he accuses of being an enemy of the magistrates in general; owing to Wyse’s public pronouncements, he indicates, the determination of the magistrates to sue for libel. Also encloses copy letter from Edward Johnson, deputy clerk of the peace for County Wexford, Enniscorthy, to Nunn, Hugh H Farmer and Richard Griffin, stating that Whelan did not make an official appeal against his conviction. Also encloses other documents on case including a copy memorial from Whelan to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle; affidavits from Mary Kelly and William Kelly [of Whelanstown] and John Bryan [of Moneytucker]; a statement from Whelan; and a synopsis of the case in contention.

6 Jan 1824-25 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/510

Letter from Reverend Mungo H Waller, magistrate and Church of Ireland clergyman, Allenstown, County Meath, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on some attacks and robbery of arms from domestic dwellings in the town of Navan and vicinity. He draws attention to an incursion by around 8 armed men at a gatehouse belonging to the Bishop of Meath [Nathaniel Alexander], during which a gun was taken plus a ‘small quantity of gunpowder & shot’. The assailants, he observes, were especially keen to discover a police constable named ‘Armstrong’, whom they were determined to kill. Little information on the identity of the perpetrators, he laments, can be obtained from the poorer classes on account of a strong fear of intimidation amongst them.

18 Feb 1825

1825