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CSO/RP/SC/1826/11

Letter from Matthew Barrington, Crown Solicitor, Limerick, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, reporting on the principal convictions which have taken place at the [Limerick] assizes, being mainly capital convictions for agrarian outrages, including the following – Daniel Purcell for the murder of Samuel Cross; Michael Keayes; John Ryan for the murder of Connell; Richard Jones for the murder of James McMahon; Michael Dowling for the robbery of John Griffin; Daniel Neville for administering unlawful oaths; Michael Madigan for an attack on John Buckley’s house and daughter; James Deardon of the 84th Regiment for violating the child of his sergeant.

16 Mar 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/12

Letter from Rev Philip Brennan, catholic priest, Fintona, [County Tyrone], to William Gregory, Under Secretary, acknowledging the Lord Lieutenant’s thanks for his efforts to prevent disturbances in his town on the 3 March 1826; claiming that the events ‘originated with the opposite party at the head of whom appeared the civil authorities’; noting that a meeting of respectable inhabitants was called in order to restore the commercial and social intercourse which has broken down between the catholic and protestant inhabitants; reporting that the meeting broke down when the protestant attendees refused to accede to John D Eccles chairing the meeting. Includes copy of the resolutions prepared by the catholic side which would have been moved if the meeting had taken place.

11 Mar 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/13

Letter from [William Beresford, 1st Viscount] Beresford, Armagh, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, requesting that the constabulary force in Waterford be moved ‘from their present quarters where they have become Domiciliated’. Also letters from [Lord] George Beresford, Curraghmore, [County Waterford], to Gregory, requesting that Chief Constable Healy stationed at Tramore, Croker stationed at Dungarvan and Sub-constable Healy be moved out of the county; claiming that [Richard] Willcocks ‘never troubles himself about the establishment in our county’; requesting the removal of Mr Allen, tidewaiter at Passage East, who is a most active agent employed in reducing Lord Waterford’s tenants; enclosing letter from R Uniacke and requesting government intervention to put down shameful outrages and recommending that the military be stationed in Kilmacthomas. Also letter from R Uniacke, magistrate, Kilmacthomas, [County Waterford], to [Henry de La Poer Beresford, 2nd] Marquis of Waterford, Curraghmore, reporting on a riot in that town which commenced when Mr Stewart passed through the town and Mr Brown, the postmaster entered the town from Waterford.

26 Feb 1826-19 Mar 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/14

Letter from M Birmingham, Dalgin, Tuam, [County Galway], to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, enclosing affidavits of Robert and Michael Canny of Cloondargin [extant], accusing Thomas Hughes and others of Knock of illegally cutting down trees to be used as handles for farm implements and possessing illegal firearms; outlining in a lengthy submission legal proceedings which he [Birmingham] has issued against Hughes and Hughes’ appeal against the charges and attempts to thwart Birmingham and confrontations which ensued; mentioning police constables Thomas Joynt and John Sweeny and Mr Carr, Chief Constable who were involved in the case; seeking legal opinion on his powers to act as a magistrate and requesting copies of relevant parliamentary legislation. Includes legal opinion of JS Townsend, describing Birmingham’s letters as ‘All this trash as long as a bill in Equity’ which ‘comes to nothing but that he wants an order to search for arms, which ought not to be granted’. Also copy of search warrant issued by Birmingham, to Thomas Joynt, constable, listing the names of those individuals whose houses are to be searched, including annotation from Townsend claiming that this general warrant is illegal. [Contains list of names not given in this description]

25 Feb 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/15

Letters from Henry Brooke, Hamilton Irwin and James Taylor, magistrates, [Brookeborough, County Fermanagh], to William Gregory, Under Secretary, enclosing information sworn before them by John Robinson, Andrew Crawford, Peter Brady police constables and Godfrey Hill, Chief Constable for the barony of Magherastephana, [County Fermanagh] against individuals accused of rioting in a public house in Brookeborough; noting that those accused have in turn lodged information against the police. Includes legal opinion of JS Townsend stating that he ‘never read papers less worth the trouble of reading’. Includes affidavits of police officers mentioning those involved in the riot at Robert Armstrong’s public house.

21 Feb 1826-23 Feb 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/16

Letter from George Burrowes, chairman, Cavan Court House, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, wishing to know if magistrates assembled at petty sessions have the authority to relocate police constables in their jurisdiction. Noting that they wish to move constables from Cavan town to Ballyhaise and Stradone, but that Capt Kennett, Chief Constable believes that he must first receive orders from the Inspector General of Police. Includes legal opinion of JS Townsend confirming that magistrates are not authorized to move constables to different stations.

21 Feb 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/17

Petition of Bernard Sheridan, Cavan, County Cavan, to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, appealing against a £10 fine levied against him for not attending a petty session case against John Brady, innkeeper, for selling liquor on the sabbath [Sunday]; noting that he is a 16 year old orphan labourer with no fixed place of residence. Includes affidavit of Sheridan, sworn before Samuel Moore. Also affidavit of Richard Lord, constable, sworn before George Burrowes, swearing that he served the summons on Sheridan at the house of John Olvany of Gartakesh. Includes legal opinion of JS Townsend, recommending that the fine be cancelled.

16 Jan 1826-14 Feb 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/18

Letter from Col Bowen, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, seeking an answer to a letter recently sent by Bowen to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant. Includes annotation stating that there is no trace of this letter in the [Chief Secretary’s] office.

6 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/19

Letter from Gustavus Brooke, Chief Constable, Longford, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, concerning the committal of Fergus McGarry and Peter McAtee for administering unlawful oaths to James Dempsey; recommending that McGarry, a notorious bad character, be convicted; noting that Rev Moffet, magistrate, considers that the life of Dempsey, the prosecutor, is in danger in Ballymahon; adding that the firearms of the Lanesborough Yeomanry have been returned to the police barrack due to the assistance of the catholic priest.

11 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/SC/1826/20

Memorial and resolutions of the magistrates of County Cork, to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, concerning the financial burden which an augmentation of the constabulary will place on the county; noting that when the barony of Barretts successfully raised six additional constables other baronies applied for additional constables. Includes resolution calling for the expense of any future increase in the constabulary to fall on the barony requesting this increase and not on the county as is currently the case. Includes a lengthy annotation [probably from Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary] stating that government is of the opinion that any measure that would make the constabulary a baronial rather than a county force would be unwelcome as it would hinder the efficient discharge of the duties of the force.

6 Dec 1825

1825