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CSO/RP/SC/1825/671

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Limerick, County Limerick, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on some reports of insurrectionary activity around the town of Moylough in County Galway. Encloses copy letter from Henry Smith, chief constable of police, Moylough, enclosing a copy report from Patrick Manning, sergeant major [police], relaying details of a submission from Reverend John O’Rourke, magistrate, stating that illegal nocturnal meetings are now in progress about two miles from the town of Moylough. On the basic of O’Rourke’s information, he conveys, ‘a regular system’ of [Ribbon] organisation is established with each nightly meeting attracting up to 50 persons. He also remarks upon the presence of a ‘machine for making [gun] Powder’ and has himself examined some gunpowder allegedly made in the immediate district.

17 Nov 1825-20 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/672

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on a proposal by Sir Nicholas Conway Colthurst, [MP for Cork city], and Colonel Robert Hedges Eyre, magistrates, for an augmentation of police in the barony of Muskerry West in County Cork. He states a formal application will be made at the quarter sessions of Macroom, to be convened on 15th of December, for 14 additional police constables.

22 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/673

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on an incidence of affray at the fair of Ardagh in County Limerick. Encloses letter from William Smith, chief constable of police, Rathkeale, County Limerick, reporting on the outbreak of disorder at Ardagh on fair day. A couple of men were arrested for ‘being extremely riotous and disorderly’, he remarks, and in a short while the mob commenced throwing stones at the police and military. During the attack, the prisoners made their escape and the police deemed it most prudent to retire, rather than continue with a confrontation. Given that a similar attack was directed against the police 4 years earlier, he suggests, the ‘patient should be withdrawn’ for holding fairs in that quarter.

22 Nov 1825-24 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/674

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on a riot and attack on the police barracks in the town of Clashmore [County Waterford] on 6th of November. Encloses a copy of the minutes of the enquiry into the disturbance in Clashmore, presided over by Richard Power, MP for County Waterford, and 8 other magistrates of County Waterford. Describes the outbreak of riot, the arrest of John Troy and Patrick Burke, and the subsequent breaking of the barrack’s windows by the mob; statements taken from Denis Fogarty, Thomas Hooper, Charles Kirk, Ann [?Ongar], Philip Denchy, Mrs Maurice Mulcahy, John Parrett, William Bulfin, Robert Mason, John Troy, James [?Scammoden], Mr O’Brien [surgeon], Michael Lynch, Anthony Fitzgerald and Lieutenant Robert H Archer, chief constable of police, barony of Decies without Drum. [See also descriptions CSO/RP/SC/1825/1 and CSO/RP/SC/1825/664].

21 Nov 1825-23 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/675

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House near Aughrim, County Galway, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on some signs of subversive activity near Cratloe Cross in County Clare. He conveys the constable and militia has discerned ‘several suspicious assemblies of Persons’ in that district. In one case, a party came across the river from County Limerick and went into the wood of Cratloe before returning home ‘a considerable time’ later. States he has made a communication to Sir Charles Doyle on the issue, and an officer has been dispatched to monitor the situation. Expresses his desire for guidance on the subject of how police patrols are to deal with such nocturnal parties as alluded to. Encloses letter from John Brown, chief constable of police, barony of Athlone, Tully Lodge, County Roscommon, reporting an arson attack on the residence of John Gallagher in the parish of Kiltoom on the 11th of November. A further outrage, he remarks, took place in the parish of Moore when two stacks of corn belonging to Peter Glancy were maliciously set alight. Glancy, he observes, was victim of three earlier attacks, caused it appears, by his taking of a land holding whose previous tenant was evicted.

16 Nov 1825-26 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/676

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House near Aughrim, County Galway, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, reflecting on the strategy deployed by the police to suppress a manifestation of serious disturbance in County Sligo, 24 November 1825. Encloses copy letter from Robert Curtis, [on behalf of the chief constable of police, William Gardiner], Easky, County Sligo, stressing the determination and resolve of the constabulary to oppose all displays of disaffection or criminal conduct in the county, 18 November 1825. Also encloses letter from Curtis and four other chief constable of County Sligo, Easky, conveying their thoughts on pacifying the ‘disturbed state’ of Sligo especially the barony of Tireragh. They propose an increase in police and cavalry manpower be put in place in Tireragh, resources that will be drawn from the surrounding baronies. The greatest proportion of reinforcements will be stationed at Screen [Skreen], the most disorderly part, with Easky and Castleconnor also being augmented. Through the exertions of such a enlarged force, nightly patrols will be increased in the troubled districts and peace re-established, 18 November 1825. Also encloses copy letter from Warburton, Ennis, County Clare, to Colonel J Irwin, magistrate, barony of Tireragh, requesting the full cooperation of the magistrates in curtailing outrage and local criminality. Conveys it is intended to place a chief constable at Skreen and Easky, to augment the number of policemen across the barony, and to introduce more frequent mounted patrols, 23 November 1825.

18 Nov 1825-24 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/677

Copy letter from Captain William Gardiner, chief constable of police, barony of Tireragh, Easkey [Easky], County Sligo, to Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, reporting that a man was attacked and ‘carded or scraped all over’ by an unknown assailant, and a second man was ‘beat by the Priest of this Parish for refusing to pay the Catholic Rent’, 1 March 1825. Also copy letter from Gardiner to Warburton, stating he has successfully apprehended Michael Fee, an escapee from the gaol of Castlebar, County Mayo. A degree of deception, he reveals, was needed to take the prisoner out of a large crowd in attendance at the wake of his brother, 21 November 1825. Also extract from a letter from Gardiner to Warburton, conveying that a gunshot was fired through the window of a local man on Christmas day. The motive for the attack, he supposes, is because the occupant is accused of giving ‘information to the Revenue’, 28 December 1825. Also copy letter from Gardiner, Tobbercurry [Tobercurry], to Warburton, expressing satisfaction over the work of the police in maintaining order in the barony of Tireragh and beyond. Whenever opportunity was afforded, he remarks, he advised the lower orders against ‘the imprudence of harbouring strangers, as they are likely to contaminate their young people, by seduction into mischievous associations’, 29 December 1825. Also copy of ‘Extract of Reports’ from Gardiner for the month of December 1825. He refers to the murder of a man called ‘Madden’ who was ‘horribly mangled, and cut on the head as if by a hatchet’; also reports on the capture of the men responsible for Madden's murder; also conveys report by Mr Montford, chief constable, Mohill, County Leitrim, on the burning of a dwelling in the village of Drungowna [Drumgownagh]; also conveys report by Mr Winslow, chief constable, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, on the arrest of Con O’Rourke, ‘a notorious offender’ and outlaw who was linked to a violent abduction in County Sligo; also conveys report by Mr Lewis, chief constable, Castlebar, County Mayo, reflecting on a burglary at Mr Duffy’s house in Erriff [County Leitrim] by a armed gang who got away with cash, clothing and a bond valued at £300, dated 8; 20 December 1825. Also copy of ‘A Schedule of Reports of the Connaught District’ with mention of various crimes including murder, arson, riot, faction fighting, Ribbonmen activity and the posting of threatening notices; compiled by Major Warburton, 19 December 1825.

1 Mar 1825-29 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/678

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, concerning a report of an affray at the fair of Ardagh in County Limerick. Encloses letter from William Smith, chief constable of police, Rathkeale, County Limerick, reporting on the circumstances that preceded an outbreak of riot in Ardagh on fair day. He expresses grave reservations at the mode of diligence shown by Reverend Gerralty, a magistrate of Newcastle [West], who involved the police in an intensive search for unlicensed public houses and tents at the fair; having discovered the greater proportion of traders were in breach of the law, he ordered the police to bring them into custody. Equally, Gerralty contended that persons taking drink in such establishments were doing so contrary to the law, and ordered the police to ‘clear them all out’. This order, Smith states, he failed to obey on grounds it would make the police most ‘obnoxious’ to the lower orders and expose his men to a severe confrontation with the public. Following Gerralty’s departure, a second magistrate appeared, Mr Furlong, whose instructions to the police during the subsequent riot were not in the best interests of the safety of the constabulary or the public peace. He requests to have the opinion of government in order to better ‘regulate the duty of Police at fairs’. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/673].

22 Nov 1825-25 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/679

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House near Aughrim, County Galway, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, referring to a report from Captain William Gardiner, chief constable of police, barony of Tireragh, County Sligo, on the apprehension of Michael Fee, who earlier escaped from the prison of Castlebar in County Mayo [not present]. He also comments on the utility of posting some extracts from the ‘Whiteboy Act’ in the most disturbed parts of County Sligo. Encloses two copies of printed handbill with heading ‘Extracts from the RIOT AND WHITE BOY ACTS of Parliament, and from the Acts to prevent the administrating and taking of unlawful Oaths, and to prevent improper Persons from having Arms in Ireland’. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/677].

1821-26 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/680

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing copy resolutions of the magistrates of County Cork requesting the appointment of 7 additional policemen to the county. They agree that the request be presented to Willcocks and a general meeting should take place at the King’s old castle in Cork on the 6th of December; presided over by John Evans-Freke, 6th Baron Carbery, chairman, Court House, Cork.

25 Nov 1825-26 Nov 1825

1825