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CSO/RP/SC/1825/101

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, expressing his apologies for a very brief earlier communication concerning intended processions of the orange order in the vicinity of Newtowncrommelin and Ballynure in County Antrim on the 12th of July. Conveys at that time no information was received on oath in relation to the expected marches but states he will personally seek to gather affidavits in the places made reference to, both today and the following day. Also second letter from D’Arcy, Ballynure, to Gregory, reporting on his visit to the locality of Lieutenant Henry Ross Lewin, chief constable of police, Ballynure, County Antrim. He reports the difficulty experienced in obtaining information on the rumoured parade on oath and indicates his hope of attending a quarter sessions at Ballymanagh where he will make further inquiry of the magistrates.

6 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/102

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Ballymanagh, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting the reluctance of local magistrates to interfere in any way with a number of orange demonstrations planned in the neighbourhood for the 12th of July. Stresses he requested the use of their influence in suppressing such activity amongst their tenantry and other local people. Encloses copy affidavit of James O’Boyle stating his belief that a parade of orangemen will take place in the district of Glenravel. Explains those of the orange fraternity intend to assemble at the fair of Newtowncrommelin and warns if a march goes ahead it will ‘create a Riot or Breach of the Peace’. Also copy affidavit of John McMullen, indicating his opinion that a procession of orangemen will occur at Newtowncrommelin on the 12th of July. He contends the parade will be countered by a party of Ribbonmen in that place with serious ramifications for disorder. Also copy affidavit of John O’Loan and James Higgins expressing their opinion of the likelihood of riot should the orange order congregate in the district around Glenravel. All information sworn before Thomas Davison, magistrate.

7 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/103

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting in favour of an application from Maurice Ryan, sergeant of 37th regiment of foot, Limerick, for permission to retain firearms at his place of residence. Observes since Ryan is now a resident of the city of Limerick, no objection can exist, whereas his previous dwelling was of a thatched variety and being located in an isolated place was vulnerable to attack. Returns letter from Ryan to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting sanction to hold arms at his personal residence. He acknowledges the rationale behind an earlier order to surrender his weapons but now requests their return, particularly a carbine fusee which was a gift from an officer under whom he served in the French Wars, 26 June 1825. Also returns letter from Goulburn to Ryan, explaining that due to the disturbed state of the country it is inadvisable to retain firearms at his country residence, as such ‘would expose him to considerable danger’, 14 October 1822. Also returns receipt for a gun and sword presented for safe keeping by Ryan to George Edoms of the 42nd regiment of foot, 1 April 1823.

14 Oct 1822-7 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/104

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting that two convicts ‘Bradly’ and 'McInerney’ have had their death sentence reduced to transportation for their part in the murder of James McMahon. Admits as yet the three leading suspects of that murder have not been brought into custody. He confides, however, that the wife of one of the men sought, ‘Kennahan’, has offered to provide information on the whereabouts of ‘Russell’, the principle culprit. He states Mrs Kennahan seeks to secure pardon for her husband and advocates compliance with her terms, especially his removal to a location across the water.

11 Jul 1825-12 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/105

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on the indictment of Mr Atkinson, chief constable of police, Antrim, County Antrim, following an alleged assault by him against some persons in a mob at the fair of Randalstown in County Antrim. He conveys the request of the magistrates that Atkinson be moved to another station or barracks, 9 July 1825. Also copy letter from Gregory to D’Arcy, indicating a more in depth account of the case at the quarter sessions of Ballymanagh is required by government. Also asks for D’Arcy personal opinion of the charge against Atkinson, 15 July 1825. Also second letter from D’Arcy to Gregory, undertaking to forward for the attention of the Lord Lieutenant a copy of notes from the quarter sessions recorded by Mr Green, barrister, on the case in question, 24 July 1825.

9 Jul 1825-24 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/106

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing an account of police duties in the city of Limerick for the month of June plus a detail of expenses for the same period [neither present]. Comments upon the malicious destruction of an out building [belonging to William Butler] in the city, apparently a reprisal for some past ‘acts of oppression’. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/90].

8 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/107

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, indicating he forwarding a statement on the ‘illegality of freemason & orange associations, and processions’, composed by the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket] and the Solicitor General of Ireland [Henry Joy], to the magistrates of Ballymanagh in County Antrim. He confirms he will put the same information into the hands of the chief constables in his jurisdiction with instruction to convey the substance and detail to the local magistrates.

8 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/108

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, relaying reports of outrage from several chief constables within his district. Encloses copy report from Captain John McLeod, chief constable and pay clerk of County Tyrone, Omagh, County Tyrone, expressing regret that the practice of waylaying continues in his district; he remarks a man named Miller Crawford, his wife and a female neighbour, were attacked and ‘beat in a most inhumane manner’ on 27th of June, 3 July 1825. Also encloses extract of letter from David Duff, chief constable of police, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, reporting on the mutilation and killing of a horse belonging to David Lovett of Mallin [Malin] on 30th of June. Observes back in January 1824 some turf was set alight on the same property and out houses damaged; he attributes both attacks to Duff’s having taken possession of that holding following an ejection of the previous occupant, 3 July 1825. Also encloses copy report from John Johnston, chief constable of police, Belturbet, County Cavan, describing a funeral procession in the locality attended by a large number of people, principally Ribbonmen. Remarks the procession was composed of persons ‘dressed with white scarves and white wands in their hands’, 6 July 1825. Also encloses copy report from JL Raymond, chief constable of police, Killashandra, County Cavan, referring to the Ribbon funeral march for deceased man ‘Conlon’ who was carried from Drummully [near Belturbet] to a cemetery at Wattlebridge in County Fermanagh. Remarks upon the distinctive attire of the marchers ‘Decked with paper and Green Ribbon’ and notes the presence of a standard bearer at front carrying a garland of green and white, 7 July 1825. Also additional letter from D’Arcy to Gregory, enclosing a second report from Johnston, Belturbet, on the Ribbon funeral procession outside the town. Expresses his suspicion that the coffin carried ‘did not contain a corpse’ and may have been purely for symbolic purposes; he remarks on the absence of violence by those taking part in the funeral march but notes the existence of some weapons in the gathering; also refers to a letter on the affair from Thomas Brady [sent to government], which he regards as somewhat self-centred. He further comments upon his success in convincing the local orange party to refrain from going on parade on 12th of July.

3 Jul 1825-30 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/109

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a copy letter from ER Douglass, chief constable of police, Ballyartan, County Londonderry, refuting a story in the ‘Northern Whig’ newspaper that berates the behaviour of the police and local magistracy following a sectarian skirmish at the fair of Claudy [Cumberclady] on the 12th of July. He recalls an orange parade marched through the village on that date and continued uninterrupted until a stone was thrown from a Roman Catholic property ‘wounded very severely one of the rear of the orange party’. Following the incident, he remarks, the orangemen re-entered the village. States he confronted the leader and issued a warning as to the consequences of disrupting the peace. Remarks upon his advice the parade left the fair and no further trouble was noticed. He observes that no local or neighbouring magistrate was in attendance at the fair nor did he see the parish priest around the time of the skirmish.

26 Jul 1825-30 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/110

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing an authorisation for leave of absence for Gilbert Watson, sub constable of police, for a period of 18 days, signed by Reverend John Molesworth Staples, Moville, magistrate of County Donegal. D’Arcy questions the practice of such consent being given by a magistrate and warns if such were the case ‘the Constabulary force might be very much weakened by the absence of numbers’.

14 Jul 1825

1825