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CSO/RP/SC/1825/681

Letter from Edward Wilson, chief police magistrate of County Tipperary, Thurles, County Tipperary, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reflecting on a call for an augmentation of police constables in the town of Carrick on Suir in County Tipperary. Encloses a memorial of the magistrates of Carrick on Suir, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, requesting the appointment of three extra police constables for service in the barony of Iffa and Offa. They point out an increase in crime is apparent throughout the town and neighbourhood with robberies, house attacks and ‘violent breaches of the Peace committed’. The small police force stationed in the town, they contend, are not sufficient to contain or control the present inclination to disorder; signed by 6 magistrates. [Contains list of names not given in this description]

24 Nov 1825-28 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/682

Letter from Charles White, magistrate, King’s County [County Offaly] and Queen’s County [County Laois; Leix], Charleville, Borris in Ossory, Queen’s County, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, drawing attention to the case of informer Michael Phelan and asserting his right to government assistance to aid removal from Ireland for reasons of his own and his family’s safety. Encloses a memorial from Phelan, Ross, Queen’s County, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, pressing his claim to compensation having provided information to the authorities that led to the apprehension of a number of lawbreakers. As a known informer, he remarks, he is ‘in dread and terror of his life from the violence threatened against him, and thinks it advisable to proceed to America’. He claims his information led to the capture of John Ringwood, Patrick Maher and Michael Mara for a robbery on the house of William Doolan of Castlefleming; also claims to have informed on John Bowe and Thomas Bowe for an attempted robbery on the dwelling of John Kerevan of Coolfin; he also claims to have informed on John Ryan for murder, robbery and disaffection [in County Kilkenny]; he also claims to have provided information that led to the apprehension of James Kelly and William Kelly who were prosecuted for the murder of Martin Quan [Quin]. Also encloses certificates in his favour from Samuel Leigh, governor of Kilkenny Gaol; from Lieutenant Hugh Boyd Wray, chief constable of police, Borris in Ossory; and from Harvey Devereux, secretary of the grand jury of County Kilkenny.

18 Feb 1825-5 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/683

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, indicating he was in attendance at a meeting of the magistrates of County Cork [concerning the appointment of additional police constables]. As his duties in Cork are now concluded, he will shortly travel to Cashel in County Tipperary, then to the city of Dublin. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/680].

9 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/684

Letter from Richard Willcocks, inspector general of police [Munster], Cork, County Cork, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, acknowledging receipt of letter concerning an investigation of the conduct of the police during a riot in Clashmore [County Waterford] and stressing his intention to follow the instruction therein. [See also descriptions CSO/RP/SC/1825/1, CSO/RP/SC/1825/664 and CSO/RP/SC/1825/674].

10 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/685

Letter from Bartholomew Warburton, magistrate, Crinkhill Lodge, Parsonstown [Birr], King’s County [County Offaly], to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting a person named John Hannon has been placed in the prison of Parsonstown for vagrancy. The individual in question, he notes, described as a ‘most incorrigible Vagrant’, was presented to him by Reverend [Cuthbert] Fetherstone, magistrate and Church of Ireland rector, and others of social standing in the neighbourhood.

12 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/686

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House near Aughrim, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, forwarding an extract of reports from the chief constable of police in the region under his superintendence [not present]. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/677].

13 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/687

File of material relating to the investigation of allegations made by Patrick Neaven against Reverend John Orr, a magistrate of Dunmore in County Galway. Includes memorial from Neaven [Neven], Dunmore, to the master general of the ordnance office [Arthur Wellesley, the duke of Wellington], London, complaining he is deprived of his livelihood as a public clerk by the caprice of Orr who refuses his work and employs his own clerk for such transactions. He alleges also that Orr is guilty of subterfuge for having removed slates from the barracks at Dunmore for private purposes; he further alleges that Orr ‘pulled down an ancient Bridge which had been built over a Deep River leading to a famous Spring Well’ and in doing so blocked access by the troops to the water. He claims to have alerted the authorities to this breach of the law and states Orr was forced to rebuild the bridge and restore the passage to the militia of Dunmore barracks. For the sake of his livelihood, he asks that Orr be prevented in using his influence to block his continued employment as a clerk; or that a permanent post is offered him under government, 27 August 1825. Also includes letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House, near Aughrim, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, expressing his distrust at the motives of Neaven whom he describes as ‘a notoriously idle & disorderly character’ who would ‘for a glass of whisky write for any body against any body’. Neaven, he observes has acted informally as a ’village scribe’ but such is the doubtful calibre of his work that Orr has refused acceptance of it and appointed his own clerk, 14 December 1825.

11 Jul 1825-14 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/688

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House near Aughrim, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Walter Molony, chief constable of police, Gort, County Galway, referring to the statement of John Hayse [or Hayes] in relation to a theft of potatoes and corn from a premises under his supervision [not present]. He observes that there exists some uncertainty over whether Hayes or his son actually saw the perpetrators, although positive identification is made by two other men in the same house who were employed by Hayse ‘to assist in protecting his life, & the property of his master’. Requests the opinion of the law officers as to whether bail can be granted to the men accuses of the larceny, 14 December 1825. Also copy query from Gregory to the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket], asking for direction on the case, with response on foot advising the local magistrates should employ their own discretion in the matter, 16 December 1825. Also copy reply from the CSO to Molony communicating the Attorney General’s decision, c17 December 1825.

14 Dec 1825-c17 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/689

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, reflecting on a couple of instances of serious public disturbance in County Cavan. Encloses copy letter from Peter Warburton, magistrate, barony of Clanmahon, County Cavan, reporting on a violent attack on his men on the townland of Maghera [Magheraboy] while attending a land repossession call [for the Bishop of Kilmore]. On the occasion in question, he stresses the importance of the protection given by Mr Ormsby [chief constable of Ballynoght] who was ‘well armed’ in the face of a mob ‘well disposed to have surrounded and murdered us’. Two policemen, he remarks, were seriously assaulted and a third managed to escape from the fury of the country people, c13 December 1825. Also encloses copy letter from Captain Charles L Kennett, chief constable and pay clerk, Cavan, reporting on the violent repossession of a large quantity of potatoes and other property previously seized in lieu of rent owed to Mr Black of Cavan. States the retrieval ‘by force’ took place near the village of Ballyhaise and involved a mob of near 500 persons; at the same time, he remarks, they assailants levelled the house of the man charged with the protection of the seized property. He also makes reference to the attack at Maghera [reported on by Warburton] where the ‘people assembled by horns, shouts and whistles’ and inflicted a bruising injury on the constabulary, 13 December 1825. Also copy reply from D’Arcy to Kennett, expressing his hope that someone will soon be apprehended for the theft of Black’s property. He expresses his shock at the ‘daring’ incident at Maghera and indicates the necessity of fixing a substantial presence of police at an appropriate town or village in that district, 15 December 1825.

13 Dec 1825-16 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/690

Letter from Major George Warburton, inspector general of police for Connaught, Oatfield House, near Aughrim, County Galway, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Henry Townsend, chief constable of police, Tulla, County Clare, requesting leave of absence for a period of one month. He claims to have made the ‘necessary arrangements with the magistrates’ to ensure the security of his district while away.

13 Dec 1825-16 Dec 1825

1825