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CSO/RP/SC/1825/31

File of material relating to the outbreak of an affray at the fair of Cushendall in County Antrim. Includes copy report [likely compiled by a local magistrate] written at Cushendall, giving a full description of the riot that began when two Protestant men came under attack by a number of Roman Catholics or Ribbonmen. He explains, the wrath of the rioters was soon directed against the police, and a number of them sustained very severe injury. Claims the mob were dismissive of the pleas of the local parish priest to end the violence; and he reserves his applause for Lieutenant Colclough, chief constable of Glenarm, who interceded with the mob to end the affray, 16 May 1825. Also includes letter from Samuel Boyd, Carrickfergus, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, offering some observations on the riot at Cushendall. Remarks upon the strength of Ribbon activity in the locality and request the presence of a small detachment of troops, 11 June 1825.

16 May 1825-22 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/32

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 a procession of Ribbonmen through the village of Armoy in County Antrim [in celebration of St Patrick's Day]. Drawing from the account of two local magistrates, he conveys the gathering was composed of 6 local lodges with each having approximately 120 men in attendance. Observes ‘they marched three deep, some with green branches & with crosses on their Hats…a number had Pistols which they fired at intervals’. States the lodges were accompanied by a fifer and division between each was marked by a person holding a white handkerchief; they paraded through the village of Armoy as far as the chapel of Glenshirk [Glenshesk]. He encloses letters from George Macartney, high sheriff of County Antrim, Lissanore Castle, Ballymoney, County Antrim, and George Hutchinson, Ballymoney, on the same subject.

19 Mar 1825-4 Apr 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/33

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 a letter from Captain Charles L Kennett, chief constable and pay clerk, Cavan, County Cavan, reporting on an attack on the police at the fair of Cavan and other matters of law enforcement in that county. Explains the assault happened at night after the fair, when ‘a sudden attack was made on the Constables by the country people with sticks & stones’. He notes that a total of 25 persons were committed for their part in the affray and information taken on four persons suspected of assaulting the police constables. Also makes reference to a violent encounter arising from the arrest of Hugh Fitzpatrick and John Fitzpatrick near Crosskeys, County Cavan, 14 February 1825. Encloses a letter from Major [Thomas] Burrowes, Stradone [House], to Kennett, indicating a violent attack was made on the constables while they conveyed a prisoner to barracks after the fair of Stradone. Several of the officers were ‘severely hurt’ in the attack, he remarks, and a number of windows broken in the barracks, 9 February 1825.

9 Feb 1825-19 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/34

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Lifford, County Donegal, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting that an investigation of the behaviour of two men attached to the police establishment at Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, is suspended for the present due to a lack of proper witnesses. He notes the absence of complainant James O’Donnell who is ‘now at sea in a merchant vessel’ and also of Alexander R Stewart, MP for County Londonderry, who is abroad. Recommends the policemen at the centre of the enquiry, constable Allen and sub constable [?Grier] be moved to the town of Raphoe and ‘two steady men’ brought from that quarter to Dunfanaghy in their stead. Since the two acted contrary to written regulation, he remarks, they ‘ought to be dismissed’ from the police. Encloses copy of the ‘Rules, Orders and Regulations…[for] Chief Constables, Constables and Sub-Constables in the Province of Ulster…’ compiled by D’Arcy [Dublin, 1824].

c26 Jul 1824-2 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/35

Letter from Francis Despard, magistrate, Killaghy Castle, County Tipperary, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, acknowledging receipt for the sum of £22 6s 8d in respect of expenditure towards the maintenance of crown witnesses in a recent murder case.

20 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/36

Letter from Reverend HR Dawson, [magistrate], Cloneen, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, seeking the advice of government over the treatment of a couple of Colliery Rangers who remain at large following the death of a prisoner at the hands of their colleague. He reports the party of rangers ‘discovered some persons raising coals without permission’ from the local mines; in process of taking a man into custody, he remarks, a rangers’ pistol went off accidentally with fatal results to the prisoner. Observes on account of two of the party being Protestants the matter has turned ‘into a party business’. He requests to learn if the magistrates can admit such men to bail.

19 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/37

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, requesting issue of 25 copies of the Constabulary Act for distribution to the chief constables in the area under his jurisdiction.

15 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/38

File of material relating to the selection of two persons to fill the posts of magistrates for the city and liberties of Limerick. Includes letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, nominating the names of Francis Spaight and Michael Gavin as suitable persons to act as magistrates for the city and liberties of Limerick, following the withdrawal of Mr Gabbott and Mr Kelly. Stresses the selection of such men represents a good balance of party [or political] interest and will have a beneficial effect upon the disturbed region, 17 January 1825.

17 Jan 1825-13 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/39

Letter from Captain George Drought, head police constable, Limerick, County Limerick, to William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing a description of police duties in the city of Limerick for the month ending 25th of January plus an account of expenses for same [neither present]. Remarks with pleasure on ‘the uninterrupted peace and good order of my District’ during the period in question.

10 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/40

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, recommending that clerks of the peace for each county be vested with power to demand that persons in possession of firearms attend for formal registration of their weapons. Failure to do so, he advises, will result in legal action against the offender; powers might also be granted the authorities to conduct house searches. He regrets that unlicensed arms are held ‘to a very considerable extent in many Districts’ and gunpowder is sold without authority in some isolated parts of County Donegal.

9 Feb 1825

1825