ALLEN-Gregory-Arms, The Dublin Police

7/28/2019 ALLEN-Gregory-Arms, The Dublin Police

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ARMS, THE DUBLI N POLI CE AND THE 1916 RI SI NG

GREGORY AJ J .EN

An ar t i cl e ( c. 5, 000 wor ds) l ar gel y based on amanuscr i pt sour ce i n t he Publ i c Recor d Of f i ce,London, Engl and

Gr egor y Al I en,193, Upper Ki l macud r oad,Bl ackr ock, Co. Dubl i n,I RELAND.


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Arms, t he Dubl i n Pol i ce and t h! e1916 Ri si ng

ABSTRACTI n 1916, t he bl oody year of r ebel l i on i n I r el and, t hepol i ce i n t he capi t al ci t y of Dubl i n, t hr eat eni ng t ost r i ke f or mor e pay, st opped a move t o ar m t he menon t he beat and al so scor ed a bl oodl ess vi ct or ypot ent i al l y mor e si gni f i cant t han t he Ri si ng i t sel f ,bei ng- i nst r ument al i n changi ng t he t r adi t i onalsect ar i an char act er of t he pol i ce and const abul ar y

If or ces on t he i s l and. The modest success of t hei rmovement f or bet t er pay al so br ought about amendmentof t hei r Oat h of Al l egi ance t o t he Cr own and gave t oa si mpl e unopposed money Bi l l i n t he Br i t i sh Houseof Commons t he st at us of a l andmar k i n I r i sh pol i cehi s t or y.


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ARMS, Tf f i EDUBLI N POLI CE AND THE 1916 RI SI NGEzGREGORYALIm

The dust of t he 1916 r ebel l i on had har dl y set t l ed i n Ut e r ui ns otO' Connel l St r eet when Dubl i n Cast l e deci ded t o arm t he Met r opol i t anPol i ce. Ri f l es wer e i ssued t o each of t he 24 st at i ons i n t heDubl i n pol i ce di s t r i ct , and ur gent ar rangement s wer e made t ot r ai n t ~e For ce i n t h~ use of f i r earms. 1 Thi s i l l - j udged movebad unexpect ed consequences f or t he pol i ce i n t he whol e ofI r el and. ( .The at t empt t o change t he t r adi t i onal char act er of t he pol i ce i nDubl i n as an unar med f or ce f ai l ed when D. M. P. men, agi t at i ng f ormor e pay, f ound a champi on i n J ohn Di l l on Nugent M. P. , gener alsecr et ar y of t he Anci ent Or der of Hi ber ni ans, and hel d t hei rmeet i ngs i n t he A. O. H. hal l i n Rut l and, now Par nel l square. _, 2

Accor di ng t o t hei r r ul es, " The Anci ent Or der of Hj j ber ni ans( Boar d of Er i n) Fr i endl y Soci et y was f ounded by t he anci entpr i nces and chi ef t i ans of I r el and. It

They wer e "pl edged t o f or war d by ever y l egi t i mat e and honour abl emeans t he secur i ng of r el i gi ous equal i t y and sel f - gover nment ofI r el and ( and) t o uni t e t he Cat hol i c chi l dr en of t he I r i shRace i n an or gani sat i on f or t he def ence of f ai t h and f at her l and,and mut ual ai d, al so pr ovi di ng f unds t o r el i eve member s, t hei rwi ves and chi l dr en dur i ng si ckness and i nf i r m t y. " 3


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2Nugent hi msel f j ust i f i ed t he A. O. H. as necessar y " t o count er -act t h"e Ascendancy Par t y. . . The Cat hol i c I r i shman must st andon an equal f oot i ng wi t h hi s Pr ot est ant f el l ow count r yman: hecl ai ms no ascendancy, but he demands absol ut e equal i t y. . . The.Cast l e syst em i s over whel m ngl y Pr ot est ant and i s dom nat ed byt he compass and squar e of t h- eMasoni c l odges of I r el and. tt 4

The Anci ent Or der of H1ber ni ans wer e al so t he gr assr oot sor gani sat i on' of t he I r i sh Nat i onal i st par t y i n t he Br i t i shHouse of Commons. On t he 15t h August ever y year t heypar aded i n ever y t own i n I r el and, i n f ul l >2"egal i a wi t h bandsand banner s, i n i m t at i on of t he Or angemen, ! s mor e st r i dent

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t r i umphal i sm on t he 12t h of J ul y.

Nugent assi st ed t he D. M. P. i n f orm ng t hei r or gan1sat i ol t ,t he Cat hol i ~Pol i ce Be~ef i t and Hol i day Soci et y, whi ch. r ef ormed i t sel f i n 1917 as t h' e Dubl i n Br anch of t heNat i onal Pol i ce and Pr i son Of f i cer s Uni on. He went out ofhi s way t o cr eat e t he i mpr ess1o~ and succeeded i n m sl eadi ngDubl i n Cast l e i nt o bel i evi ng t hat t he r ebel l i ous pol i cemenwer e act ual l y j oi ni ng t he Hi ber ni ans.

I n t he ci r cumst ances, i t was not sur pr i si ng t hat t he Cast l eaut hor i t i es wer e wor r i ed when i nf or mat i on was r ecei ved t hata pol i ce st r i ke, backed by t he AOH was i mm nent , and t hatt he suppl y of ar ms t o t he pol i ce on st r i ke was di scussedat a secr et meet i ng i n t he ci t y. The pr ecaut i on hadal r eady been t aken of wi t hdr awi ng t he r i f l es f r om t he pol i ce


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3When t he AOH connect i on was r ai sed i n t he House of Commonsl at er i n t he year dur i ng t he debat e on t he Const abul ar y andPol i ce ( I r el and) Bi l l , Nugent del i ber at el y' conf used t he i ssuef or t he gover nment by encour agi ng t he bel i ef t hat what t heywer e up agai nst was at t empt ed subver si o~ of t he Force by t heHi ber ni ans, and r ej ect i on by t he DMP of t hei r Oat h of Al l egi ance.

From 1836 t he D. M. P. and Royal I r i s h Const abul ar y had swor ni dent i cal Oat hs t o t h' e Sover : ei ' gn. " As an under t aki ng t o di schar g~t l t ei r dut i es i mpar t i al l y t i r e Oat h- was i mpecc' abl e down t o t he f i malcl ause, whi ch cont ai ned an un~or t unat e qual i f i cat i on.

UI ( A. B. ) do swear t hat I do not bel ong t o, and t hat I wi l l not j oi n or bel ong t o, any pol i t i cal soci et ywhat soever , or any secr et soci et y what soever , unl ess t heSoci et y of Fr eemasons, So hel p me God. " 5

I t i s cl ear t hat Si r Rober t Peel , f at her of t he I r i shConst abul ar y, who was out of of f i ce i n 1836, woul d never havecount enanced a qual i f i ed Oat h, . On 14 August , 1829,when he was Home Se~r et ar y and at t hat ver y moment pr eoccupi ed.wi t h t he l aunchi ng of t he New Pol i ce i n London, he t ook t het r oubl e t o wr i t e t o t he Chi ef Secr et ar y f or I r el and, Lor d Fr anci sLeveson Gower :

UI . woul d cer t ai nl y ( r econst i t ut e t he I r i sh Const abul ar y) i nsuch a manner as t o pr ecl ude al l j ust obj ect i ons t o i t ont he scor e of par t i al i t y. I pr esume t hat at pr esent al lpar t y di st i nct i ons i n t he pol i ce ar e f or bi dden, al lat t endance at Or ange Lodges' and so f or t h, and I t hi nk t hatt he r egul at i ons i n t hat r espect cannot be t oo scr upul ousl yenf ore ed , 11 6


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I n t he Dubl i n of 1916 no pol i ce st at ~on was, wi t hout i t s compl i mentof pr ot est ant member s , some of whom were Fr eemasons' and di d notconceal t he f act . The common pur pose and a st r ong spi r i t of-comr adeshi p bonded t he D. M. P. , and Cat hol i cs and pr ot est ant s goton ver y wel l t oget her . But af t er 1912 and t he r esi st ance t oHome Rul e i n t he nor t h of I r el and, r el at i onshi ps t ended t o be' uneasy. The Cat hol i c pol i cemen al ways suspect ed t he i nt ent i onsof t he Fr eemason among t hem

The R. I . C. wer e "par t of t he armed f or ces of t he Cr ownl., as poant edout by J . ames Cr ai g, M. P. f or East Down, af t er war ds Lor d Cr ai gavon,f i r st Pr i me M ni s t er of Nor t her n I r el and. Cr ai g was quot i ng f r oma ci r cul ar of t he I nspect or - Gener al of 5 J anuar y, 1915, i n t h~House of Commons debat e on t he new pol i ' ce Bi l l . npr i or t o t hatt : i . me her e was some consi der abl e doubt even at Headquar t er s i n.Dubl i n as t o whet her or not t hey wer e a ci vi l i an f or ce. 1t 7

Despi t e t he pr obl em of i dent i t y, t he R.I.C. had not ~en r ej ect edout r i ght by anyt hi ng l i ke t he whol e of t he Nat i onal i st popul at i on.But t he par t i san char act er of t hei r Oat h must have conf i r med asuspi ci on t hat was wi despr ead even among t hose who wer e pr epar edt o accept t he f or ce as a mat t er of pr agmat i c pol i t i cs_ The D. M. P.as an unarmed f or ce i n t he Br i t i sh t r adi t i on. was i a a di f f er entcat egor y desp~t e t he si m l ar i t y of t hei r Oat h.


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5Under pr essur e f r om I r i sh Nat i onal i st s i n par l i ament , t hegover nment conceded t he poi nt . At t he el event h hour , evenas t he sands of power wer e r unni ng out t or Dubl i n Cast l e,t he Oat h was amended i n a Schedul e added t o t he Const abul ar yand Pol i ce ( I r el and) Act , 1916.And i n a ser i es of cl assi cal moves f or eshadowi ng t he ~esponset o t he pol i ce cr i si s i n Br i t ai n t wo year s l at er , t he i mpover i shedconst abl es wer e pai d a war bonus of 3s/ 6d a week. Basi c paywas i ncr eased, 33s/ - a week af t er t went y year s by 3s/ - whi ch,wi t h ar r ear s of pay, put an ext r a 5 i n t hei r pocket s i n t i me.f or Chr i st mas. And t hei r r i ngl eader s were sacked.

THE REBELLI ONWhen t he f i r st shot s wer e f i r ed on Easter Monday mor ni ng,1916, t he pol i ce i n Dubl i n Wer e wi t hdr awn f r om dut y, t o r emai ni n t hei r bar r acks, out of si ght , f or t he r est of t he week.The cont r ast bet ween t hei r r ol e i n t he communi t y and t hat , oft hei r par a- m l i t ar y counte rpar t s i n t he provi m : escoul d nothave been mor e st r i ki ngl y i l l ust rated. The armed Const abul ar yr emai ned on dut y, l osi ng 13 ki l l ed, 22 wounded: t he ambushat Ashbour ne out s i de Dubl i n account ed f or t he most of t hesecasual t i es, 8 k i l l e d, 15 wounded.

The DMP count ed 3 of t hei r own men ki l l ed, and 7 Wounded,i ncl udi ng t he f i r st casual t y of t he week, Const abl e J amesO' Br i en, 48 year s of age, f r om K1l f er gus, Count y Li mer i ck;shot dead, " an i mpet uous shoot i ng of t he pol i ceman" 8 onunarmed dut y at t he Co~k Hi l l gat e t o t he Upper Cast l e Yar d.Hi s assai l ant , one 0' i J i 13urgent l eader J amS' s ' COnbo l l y' sCi t i zen Army. Sean Connol l y, was hi msel f soon deadf r om a sni per ' s bul l et , hoi st i ng t he Tr i col our on t he r oof of


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6The D. M. P. , f r om i t s i ncept i on i n 1836, had been model l ed onon t he London Met r opol i t an Pol i ce. I n or gani sat i on andt r adi t i on bot h1f or ces had devel oped hand~i n- hand on si m l arl i nes.But i n t he af t er mat h of ar med r ebel l i on, W t h i t s t er r i bl et ol l i n casual t i es, 450 ki . l l ed, 2',600 i nj ur ed, and t he ci t ycent r e i n r ui ns, i t became cl ear t hat Dubl i n Cast l e waspl anni ng a new r ol e f or t he f or ce.Soon af t er t he r ebel l i on was cr ushed, a company of f i f t y orsi xt y D. M. P.men armed wi t h t hei r unf am l i ar r i f l es, par adedat Nel son Pi l l ar i n O' Connel l st r eet , on t hei r way t o t hem l i t ar y f i r i ng r ange at Dol l ymount st r and. Acur i ous ~r owd of Dubl i ner s gat her ed, i ncl udi ng t hei nevi t abl e wags, " The br ave sol di er s! Bol t i ng t he st abl e,and t he hor s e gone! "

A speci al t r am t ook t hem t o Dol l ymount , wher e t hey wer e gr eet edby t hei r i nst r uct or s, R. I . C. men who had donned m l i t ar y uni f or mf or t he dur at i on of t he war . Pr i m t i ve accommodat i on i n hut s,and army, r at i ons wer e pr ovi ded.

I n t he hi gh summer of t he year , wi t h t he pr ospect of baski ngi n t he sunshi ne on Dol l ymount st r and f or t wo weeks, t he menwer e not di smayed by t ne spar t an condi t i ons. But whenappr opr i at e deduct i ons wer e made i n t hei r meagr e wages, t hei ndi gnant pol i cemen banded t oget her and, di s cover i ng s t r engt hi n t hei r number s, r esol ved t o agi t at e f or bet t er condi t i ons.They voi ced t hei r f eel i ngs t her e and t hen, t o no i mmedi at e


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r esi dent i al cour ses. I nst ead t he men t r avel l ed t o t he r angeever y day and wer e pai d a SUbsi st ence al l owance but no t r avel l i ngexpenses. Some of t hem r ef usi ng t o pay t he t r am f ar es out oft hei r own pocket s cycl ed t he f our m l es t o Dol l Ymount .The movement was concei ved, i nspi r ed and, unt i l Nugent t ook ahand was al so or gani sed by a f ormer I r i sh Guar dsman, Const abl eW l l i am Het her t on, an unmar r 1. ed man i n hi s ear l y t hi r t i es, f r omBal l i nal e~, Co. Longf or d.

Meet i ngs of t he const abl es wer e hel d under of f i ci al auspi cesi n t he Pol i ce Depot i n Kevi n st r eat . When t hei r r espect f ulmemor i al s wer e i gnor ed, Het her t on booked t he Ormonde Hot el ,a st one' s t hr ow f r om t he Cast l e. I n t he subdued sur r oundi ngsof Mr s. de Massey' s hot el , t he r ebel l i ous D. M. P. men wer e ont hei r best behavi our : ac~or di ng t o t he r epor t of I nspect orPat r i ck Bear y of t he Br i dewel l ~i vi si or r , t hey " compor t ed

"-t hemsel ves i n an or der l y manner . "

Thei r subsequent meet i ngs di d not al ways f ol l ow t he same decor ouspattern. Ther e wer e ."TieryU speeches, ngreat out bur s t s ofcheer i ngft, and sudden . r ushes f r om t he "A. O. H. hal l t o" evade t hephal anx of of f i cer s wai t i ng i n ambush out si de. Lat er , when t hemen gr ew bol der and st opped r unni ng, Het her t on dr ove t he f i r stnai l i n hi s cof f i n when he r ef er r ed t o t he wat chf ul of f i cer s i na l oud voi ce as "a guar d of honour . "

The at t endance at t hese gat her i ngs var i ed f r om 60 t o 170 const abl es ,each man cont r i but i ng 3d t o def r ay expenses. The pr oceedi ngs wer egi ven pr om nent publ i c i t y i n t he pr ess, but t he pr udent newspaperedi t or s deci ded not t o publ i sh one r esol ut i on, passed at ameet i ng on- t he 20 J ul y, war ni ng t he Lor d Mayor of Dubl i n t hat t he


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8po1i ce wou1d not be r esponsi bl e f or pr oper t y i n t he ci t y af t ert he 3 August i f t hei r demands wer e i gnor ed. I t was at t hi smeet i ng on 20 J ul y t hat t he const abl es t ur ned up at t he A. O. H.ha11 f or t he f i r st t i me t o hear Nug- ent ' .The Pol i ce Comm ssi oner , Li eut enant - Col onel Wal t er Edgewor t h,J ohnst one, " a1ways i n t i mes of danger and t r i bu1at i on coolas a cucumber " 9 had l i t t l e r espect f or Nugent , but hea1so had a j aundi ced vi ew of hi s own men.On 15 November , he wr ot e t o t he Under - Secr et ar y, Si r W 11i amByr ne: " The men of t hi s f or ce ar e accompl i shed i nt r i guer sand ar e et er na11y seeki ng out s i de i nf 1uence wher e appoi ntment s ,pr omot i ons, et c. ar e concer ned. Mr . Nugent has al ways beenr eady t o secur e an undeser ved f avour f or a f r i end, or t o st aypol i ce act i on agai nst a pub1i can.

" I t i s essent i a1 f or t he wel l - bei ng and di sci pl i ne of t hef or ce t hat t he men shoul d cl ear l y under st and t hat Mr . Nugentand t he A. O. H. ar e not al l - power f ul . "

Byr ne, as Under - Secr et ar y, had not seen t he begi nni ng of t heaf f ai r . Hi s i mmedi at e pr edecessor , Si r Rober t Chal mer s, headof t he Tr easur y i n London, had been sent t o Dubl i n as car et akerunt i l a r epl acement coul d be f ound f or t he i l l - star red Si rMat hew Nat han, whose car eer had ended i n t he r ui ns of t he r ecentr ebel l i on.

Chal mer s had been f or ced t o t ake on t he j ob. "He hat ed t hesquabbl es and despi sed t he i deal s of t he ( I r i sh) peopl e Hi sone i dea appear ed t o be t o get back t o London as soon as ever


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9The pol i t i cal head of t he I r i sh gover nment of t he day was .anot her m sf i t , Henry EdwardDuke, M..P. f or Pl ymout h, t he manwho r epl aced August i ne Bi r r el l as Chi ef Se~et ar y when Bi r r el l ~

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l i ke Nat han, r et ur ned t o London i n di sgr ace.The new Chi ef Secret ar , r "was' so f ul l of sound l aw t hat t her ewas l i t t l e r oom i n hi m f or i magi nat i o~ He di d not seem t ohave t he l east under st andi ng of what was r esent ed i n t heat t i t ude of Engl and t o I r el and t he ver y act of gi vi ng t hecount r y t o such as he - wi se, super i or and Engl i sh ~ t hought -whi ch made t he I r i sh peopl e so f r act i ous and so di f f i cul t t ogover n. " Hi

I t was i nt o t he hands of such unsympat het i c men t hat t he honestconst abl es of t he D. M. P. wer e del i ver i ng t hei r r i ngl eader s.Thei r Comm ssaoner , at l east , was sympat het i c; al t hough, under -st andabl y, concer n f or hi s own di f f i cul t i ea wag not l essevi dent t han t he suppor t he was' pr epar ed t o gi ve t o hi s meni n t hei r econom c pl t ght .

GRASPI NG TB NETTLE

On 22 J ul y, wr i t i ng t o t he Under - Secr et ar y, J ohnst one r ecal l edt hat i n 1914 an i ncr ease of 2s/ - a week had been "consi der edi nadequat e by t he men" He nowadvi sed Chal mer s, " Thi s movement i s not mer el y due t o t he wor kof mal cont ent s. Ther e i s a gener al f eel i ng t hr oughout t hef or ce t hat t hey ar e under pai d, and al t hough t he R. I . C. ar e not


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The payment of t he war bonus i n J ul y, shor t of br i ngi ng aset t l ement , onl y encour aged t he men. W th t hei r t ai l s i nt he ai r , t hey pr essed t hei r demand f or an i ncr ease of l 2s/ -i n basi c pay.

On t he 5 August , J ohnst one gr asped t he net t l e. He wr ot e t oChal mer s, t t Two cour ses ar e now open, t o appoi nt a Comms si ont o i nqui r e i nt o t he pay of t he D. M. P. , or t o i ssue an Or dert o t he For ce ( pr oscr i bi ng t he meet i ngs) . The appoi nt ment ofa Comm ssi on at t he pr esent j unct ur e woul d savour t oo much ofa vi ct or y f or agi t at i on. "Cltalmers di spat ched t he f i l e t oDuke i n London, "Pr essi ng. I di s cussed t hi s mat t er r epeat edl ywi t h t he Chi ef Comm ssi oner I t i s vi t al t o enf or ce di s ci pl i net hr ough t he Chi ef Comm ssi oner f i r m y and at once. "

The meet i ngs wer e dul y pr oscr i bed i n Pol i ce Or der No. 395 f ort he 9 August . But t he men, wi t h J ohn Di l l on Nugent M. P. , andt he f or ces of t he A. O. H. r anged behi nd t hem wer e i n no moodt o back down, and t he ~o. l l l 14i ssi oner 'Gr dJ ~: rwas i gnor ed.

I n an ef f or t t o cont rol t he si t uat i om J ohnst one, agai nsthi s i ncl i nat i ons, al l owed t he men t o hol d a meet i ng i nt he bar r acks at Kevi n st reet on t he 20 Oct ober . I t wasa noi sy gat her i ng, " ver y much agai nst t he i nt er est s ofdi sci pl i ne" , he wr ot e t o t he Under - Secr et ar y. " I amdr i ven t o gr ant i ng per m ssi on I know t hat i f per m ssi oni s r ef used, meet i ngs wi l l be hel d out si de i n undesi r abl epl aces i n def i ance of al l aut hor i t y. "


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11Bet r ayi ng hi s own f r ust r at i on he wrote, t i Themen ar e gr owi ngver y i mpat i ent and t he del ay i n announci ng t he pr oposal s f oran i ncr ease i n pay i s bei ng ut i l i sed by t he mal cont ent s t ost i r up t r oubl e. "

I n i gnor ance of t he gover nment ' s i nt ent i ons, and " i n def i anceof al l aut hor i t y" t he men packed t he A. O. H. hal l on t he 26t h,and agai n on t he 27t h and 28t h Oct ober . They wer e i n hi ghspi r i t s l eavi ng t he hal l on t he 28t h, and made no ef f or t t oevade t hei r of f i cer s who wer e, as usual , wai t i ng out Si de.

Chi ef - Super i nt endent J ames Dunne r epor t ed, "As t he men l ef t ,al l t he A. O. H. of f i c i al s , 10 or 12 i n number , came out on t ot he st eps and t he const abl es t o t he number of 60 assembl ed i ~t he cent r e of t he st r eet . Some of t hem l aughed audi bl y, andone of t hem gave a yel l i n a der i si ve manner , appar ent l ydi r ect ed at t he pol i ce of f i cer s. "

J ohnst one was now convi nced t hat t he agi t at i on had gone f arenough: " cont r ar y t o t hei r Oat h' ( t he men, he r epor t ed) wer eno doubt enr ol l ed as. member s of t he A. O. H. " Spur r ed by t hi sconf i r mat i on of t hei r wor st f ear s, Duke act ed at once i n. adi r ect i ve t o t he Chi ef Comm ssi oner .

I n t he event of a pol i ce st r i ke, he di r ect ed on 28 Oct ober ,t he Royal I r i sh Const abul ar y was not t o be dr af t ed i nt o t hec i t y. I nst ead, speci al const abl es woul d be enr ol l ed, wi t ht he Ar my st andi ng i n t he wi ngs. But t he I nspect or - Gener alof t he R. I . C. and t he Dubl i n Pol i ce Comm ssi oner woul d pr epar e


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As a mat t er of ur gency, t he const abl es "60 or t her eabout s" whohad been i dent i f i ed at t he meet i ngs wer e t o be par aded by t hei rsuper i nt endent s and asked t o expl ai n t hei r i nsubor di nat i on:di d t hese men wi sh " t o expr ess r egr et f or t hei r conduct and t or emai n i n t he For ce ( and) do t hei r dut y i n accor dance wi t h l awand t he r egul at i ons?"

J ohnst one hi msel f was t o see t he r i ngl eader s and " i n exer ci seof hi s di scr et i on puni sh of f ender s by f i ne, t r ansf er orot her wi se, or by i mmedi at e di sm ssal . "

The const abl es, dul y par aded, wer e unr epent ant : " I am notsor r y I do not r egr et bei ng i dent i f i ed wi t h t he A. O. H I ' l l f ol l ow my comr ades what ever t hey do I know i t wasagai nst t he Comm ssi oner ' s Or der , I went t o bet t er my posi t i onand t o l ook f or a l i vi ng wage I wi sh t o r emai n i n t he For ceand do my dut y as I have al ways done. "

Supt . Cor nel i us Ki er nan of t he Donnybr ook , Di vi s i on r epor t ed," The const abl e& dur i ng t he i nt er vi ew assumed a f i r m butr espect f ul at t i t ude. "

ehar ges of i ndi sci pl i ne wer e l ai d agai nst Het her t on and f ourot her const abl es, J ames Mur r ay f r om Dunmanway i n Co. Cor k;Edwar d Smyt h of Cl over hi l l , Co. Cavan; J ames Dal y, Cahi r ci veen,and Pat r i ck Keat i ng who hai l ed f r om Dunl avi n, Co. W ckl ow.Bef or e he par aded t hese r i ngl eader s J ohnst one advi sed t he Chi efSecr et ar y on 30 Oct ober , " The summar y di sm ssal of t he men whi l e t he adm t t ed gr i evance of t he For ce as t o r at es of pay i sunr edr essed m ght r easonabl y be expect ed t o have an i l l - ef f ect


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-13Dubl i n Cast l e had j ust announced t o t he pr ess t he i nt ent i onof t he gover nment t o i ncr ease t he pay of t he D. M. P. and R. I . C.Duke was t o appear i n t he House of Commons t he f ol l oW ng day,and he want ed t i me t o get t he debat e st ar t ed. He was happyt o agr ee wi t h J ohnst one' s assessment of t he si t uat i on and hecar ef ul l y mar ked t he Comm ssi oner ' s car ds, "As : i s somet i mesdone i n gr ave di sci pl i nar y cases, t he Chi ef I Comm ssi oner m ghtpr oper l y, af t er hear i ng t he char ges and evi dence, adj our n hi sdeci si on of t he cases t o a l at er dat e November 7t h, st at i ngt he gr avi t y of t he char ges as hi s r eason f or adj our nment . "

I N THE HOUSE OF COMMODS

Openi ng t he debat e i n t he House of Commons Duke soon beggedt he i s sue of al l egi ance t hat was dest i ned t o gi ve t o a Si mpl e,unopposed money Bi l l t he st at us o~ a l andmar k i n I r i sh pol i cehi st or y. The enr ol ment of D. M. P. men i n t he A. O. H. had, het ol d t he House al armed many peopl e i n Dubl i n. I n an obvi ousr ef er ence t o Nugent , whom he di d not I - del l t i f yby name, Dukement i oned a conver si on i n t he l obby of t he House of Commonswi t h t he member f or Dubl i n, compl ai ni ng, " ( He) made t woabsol ut el y conf l i ct i ng st at ement s t o me as t o whet her i nhi s j udgement t hi s soci et y was or was not a pol i t i cal SOCi et y. " 12

The I r i sh Nat i onal i st f or Li ver pool , T. P. O' Connor was on hi sf eet at once chal l engi ng t he Chi ef Secr et ar y on t he pol i ce Oat hand t he excl usi on of t he SOCi et y of Fr eemasons f r om t hepr ohi bi t i on on member shi p of pol i t i cal and secr et soci et i es.The debat e on pol i ce pay i n I r el and now got l ost i n sect ar i an


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14Maj or J ohn Rober t Br amst on Newman f or Enf i el d- M ddl esexat t empt ed a subt l e di st i nct i o: n bet ween t he A. O. H. and t heOr ange Or der , on t he one hand, and t he Fr eemaso: ns: nTheH1ber ni ans a: nd t he Or angemen st and on t he same pl ane: bot har e mor e t han sect ar i an; t hey ar e bot h gr eat pol i t i calasset s of I r el and; t hey dabbl e i n pol i t i cs The Fr eemasonst ake no par t i n pol i t i cs. tt 13

The member f or Enf i el d was speaki ng as an Engl i shman, andJ oe Devl i n f or West Bel f ast accept ed Maj or Newman' s wor d f ori t t hat Fr eemasonr y as he knew i t was a char i t abl e or gani sat i on.But i t I r el a: nd, i t was I t amost power f ul and sci ent i f i c pol i t i calmachi ne I t eat s i nt o and cor rodes t he whol e soci al a: ndpol i t i cal l i f e of I r el a: nd.U 114 The pol i t i cal char act er ofFr eemasonr y i n ei t her Engl and or I r el and was deni ed by Col onelJ ames Cr ai g f or East Down, t he f ut ur e Lor d Cr ai gavon. Buthe was, he adm t t e~ " f ul l y al i ve t o t he f act t hat ( theFr eemasons wer~) a secr et soci et y. " 115

And t hat was t he ver y hear t of t he mat t er .f or East Mayo, t he Nat i onal i st l eader ,

J ohn Di l l on

~t h devast at i ng i nSi ght now i dent i f i ed t ~e r oot cause,af t er t he Act of Uni on, of a cent ur y of m st r ust not t o ment i ongr i ef and bl oodshed i n Angl o- I r i sh r el at i ons. Cat hol i cswer e f or bi dden by t hei r Chur ch under pai n of mor t al si n f r omj oi ni ng secr et SOCi et i es . When t he Oat h as i t st ood wasi mposed on t he const abl es of a Cat hol i c nat i on i n 1836, sosoon af t er t he Cat hol i c Rel i ef Act 01" 1829, t hat "was an actof hi gh- handed oppr essi on and was cal cul at ed i n t he eyes of


17/22

15ascendancy f act i on Thi s ~ct dest r oyed al l i dea of f ai t hi n t he i mpar t i al i t y of t he adm ni s t rat i on of t he l aw. t I 16

Ther e was no answer t o t hat ar gument . Duke had al r eadycomm t t ed t he gover nment t o del et i on of t he r ef er ence t o t heFr eemasons i n t he Oat h, " Ther e must be equal t r eat ment f orever ybody i n t hese mat t er s of pol i ce di sci pl i ne. " 1~, Therewas one f ai nt pr ot est f r om Col onel Cr ai g, If I do not i nt endt o pr ess my obj ect i on f ur t her t han t o say t hat , as a memberof t he Masoni c Or der , I do not t hi nk i t i s necessar y t hatt hi s st ep shoul d be t aken. " 1B And so t he House of Commons ,wi t hout a di vi si on, agr eed t o add t he hi st or i c Thi r d Schedul et o t he Const abul ar y and Pol i ce ( I r el and) Act , 1916.

I n t he f i nal st ages of t he debat e Duke made t he r emar kabl est at ement t hat he had been m sl ed by f al se st at ement sdel i ber at el y ci r cul at ed by t r oubl emaker s i n Dubl i n " t hat aver y l ar ge number i f not near l y al l of t he member s of t heD. M. P. ( had j oi ned t he O. A. H. ) i n br each of t hei r Oat b.of of f i ce I am now sat i s f i ed t aat not mer el y have nota l ar ge body of t he D. M. P. j oi ned t hat soci et y, but none oft hem have j oi ned i t . "i s SO. " 19

The i nscrut abl e Nugent added, " That

And t hen Ti mot hy Heal y, t he member f or Nor t h- East Cor k, gavevent t o t he f r ust r at i on t he Dubl i n Pol i ce Comm ssi oner hadal so endur ed, i n col our f ul l anguage J ohnst one woul d not havedar ed t o use, nI t i s r eal l y i nt ol er abl e t hat peopl e her e i DDowni ng St r eet , knoW ng not hi ng what ever of t he condi t i ons ofI r el and, shoul d del ay and obst r uct and make t hemsel ves apubl i c danger When a f or ce whi ch, on t he Whol e, has beena cr edi t t o t he Met r opol i s of I r el and has made r easonabl e and


18/22

16pr oper cl ai ms i t i s shocki ng and monst r ous t hat t hat f or ceshoul d be t hr own i nt o a condi t i on of seet hi ng di scont ent by t hedel ay i mposed by t he i mpost er s of t he Br i t i sh Tr easur y. If 20~

W t h par l i ament pr eoccupi ed wi t h t he war i n Eur ope, i t i sdoubt f ul i f member s l i nger i ng i n t he House " t he I r i shmen apar t ,wer e bot her i ng t o l i st en anymor e.

TH!E FUNERAL

I n Dubl i n on 7 November , t he dat e agr eed W t h Duke, J ohnst onesat i n j udgement on t he f i ve r i ngl eader s, each of whom waschar ged wi t h di sobedi ence of or der s and subver si on of di sci pl i ne.Het her t on had t aken t l aver y pr om nent par t " ; nor had hi s r emar kon t he "guar d of honour " of seni or of f i cer s out si de t he A. O. H.hal l been f or got t en. Het her t on was di sm ssed on t he spot .St ayi ng t he hand of hi s wr at h i n t he ot her cases, J ohnst onei mposed modest f i nes and t r ansf er r ed t he f our const abl es t o t her ust i c l i m t s of t he Met r opol i t an di s t r i ct .

That eveni ng, t he D. M. P. wer e back i n Rut l and Squar e, packi ngt he hal l , 170 const abl es i n a ner vous show of sol i dar i t y: whent he meet i ng was over " some of t hem t ook pai ns t o conceal t hei rf aces com ng out . " Het her t on appeal ed t o t hem not t o st r i ke.He was cer t ai n t o be r ei nst at ed. ~~er e was no_dOUbt , J ohns toner epor t ed, t hat " t he men ( had) r ecei ved ver y st r ong assur ancesof par l i ament ar y suppor t . "


19/22

17

On t he f ol l owi ng day Mur r ay, Smyt h, Dal y and Keat i ng wer ei n hi gh spi r i t s get t i ng r eady t o go t o t hei r new st at i ons.At 5 p. m J oe Harmon of Queen st r eet dr i vi ng a hear se dr awnby t wo horses ar r i ved at t he headquar t er s of t he C- Di vi si oni n St o' r e st r eet wher e he was j oi ned by cabbi e Andy J udge.Dal y and Keat i ng l oaded t hei r boxes on t he hear se,announci ng t o an i ndi gnant St at i on- Ser geant J ohn Kel l eher ," We' r e havi ng a f uner al . " Kel l eher spot t ed Het her t on i nt he st at i on yar d and or der ed hi m out .

The " f uner al " t hen set of f f or t he A- Di vi s i onacr oss t he r i ver wat ched by a baf f l ed cr owd of "women andmen of t he wor ki ng cl ass. 1t At Kevi n St r eet Const abl eSmyt h put hi s bel ongi ngs aboar d and t he pr ocessi on whi chhad pi cked up a hackney car somewher e al ong t he way set of fagai n, t hi s t i me f or Lad Lane wher e Mur r ay was st at i oned.

Const abl e J ohn Byr om seven f eet t o t he spi ke of hi s hel met ,was on poi nt dut y i n Col l ege Gr een when t he pr ocessi onpassed, t he hear se and t he cabbi e Andy J udge and now t hr eehackney car s f ul l of mer r y pol i cemen. I nspect or Dani elBar r et t r epor t ed Const abl e Byr om s st or y, nThe const abl ehad occasi on t o si gnal by means of hi s upr ai sed hand t hehear s e dr i ver The dr i ver i nst ead of pul l i ng up t hehor ses bol dl y sm l ed at hi m Thi s set t he const abl et hi nki ng The dr i ver of t he hear se was a young const abl edr essed i n t he l i ver y of a coachman as hi s t al l hat wasf l at t ened down and hi s demeanour was unusual l y cheer f ul . "


20/22

18

The I r i sh Ti mes~r ecor ded " a pr ocessi on of an ext r aor di nar ychar act er I t af f or ded much amusement t o spect at or s . 1tThei r of f i cer s wer e anyt hi ng but amused. t t Adel i ber at eat t empt t o t ur n t he pol i ce i nt o r i di cul e Unpr ecedent ed A t ot al di sr egar d and cont empt f or di sci pl i ne. tt 21

Supt . Fr anci s Fl ynn of t he F- Di vi s i on r epor t ed t hatt he const abl es t hough cheer i ng and shout i ng wer e al l soberpassi ng t hr ough Ki ngst own on t hei r way t o Dal key t en m l esout f r om t he ci t y. Supt . Lawr ence Mur phy ofKevi n st r eet was bemused: t he const abl es " evi dent l y copi edUni ver si t y st udent s who ar e r ust i cat ed by t hei r aut hor i t i esbut such pr anks ar e a new depar t ur e i n pol i ce ci r cl es. "

On 11 November f or t he second t i me t hat week J ohnst one hel dcour t i n hi s of f i ce. " I consi der ed t ~~ evi dence concl usi ve.Ther e was pr act i cal l y no at t empt t o make any def ence. Idi sm ssed al l f our const abl es, t t he i nf or med Byr ne, t heUnder - Secr et ar y.

Now t hey wer e al l gone, t he r i ngl eader s, Het her t on and,t hr ough t hei r own f ool i shness or at Het her t on' s i nst i gat i oni n an ef f or t t o gai n publ i ci t y, Mur r ay, Dal y, Keat i ng andSmyt h. The meet i ngs i n t he A. O. H. bal l cont i nued. ' t MrNugent i s pr epar ed t o al l ow t he agi t at i on t o subsi de pr ovi dedt l B di sm ssed const abl es ar e r ei nst at ed, " J ohnst one r epor t edon 15 November . That ni ght , Nugent br avel y t ol d hi s wi l dl ycheer i ng audi ence, " The f i ve men who have been di sm ssedwi l l be r ei nst at ed bef or e a week, t hey wi l l have t hei r f or mer


21/22

19number s, and go back t o t hei r ol d st at i ons. t I

I t was al l t o no avai l . For t he next f ew mont hs t heex- const abl es wer e suppor t ed out of t he f unds oft he Cat hol i c Pol i cemen' s Benef i t and Hol i day Soci et y. I n1917, Het her t on or gani sed t he Dubl i n br anch of t he Nat i on~lPol i ce and Pr i son Of f i cer s Uni on. When t he Uni on col l apsed: i n 1918he sur vi ved on t he char i t y of hi s ol d comr ades: he was al waysr espect abl y dr essed and was never shor t of t obacco f or hi s pi pe.I n t he annus m r abi l i s of 1922 bot h Het her t on and J ames Murraywer e r ei nst at ed i n t he D. M. P. by t he I r i sh Pr ovi si onalGover nment i n 1924, Het her t on was pr omot ed ser geant , and t heyr et i r ed f r om t he Gar da Si ochana, Het her t on i n 1932, Mur r ay i n1941. Smyt h, Dal y and Keat i ng who must have f ound l i t e mor econgeni al as pr i vat e ci t i zens di d not r esume t hei r pol i ce car eer s.

By 21 November , Super i nt ende~t Lawr ence Murphycoul d r epor t conf i dent i al l y t o t he Comm ssi oner , " The men appeart o be set t l i ng down t o t hei r wor k gener al l y, and t he number ofsummons compl ai nt s ent er ed l ast week was above aver age. "

The f i l e on t he D. M. P. r evol t spar ked of f by t he 1916 r ebel l i onhas been gat her i ng dust i n t he Publ i c Recor d Of f i ce i n Londonf or si xt y year s. When i t was bei ng r et ur ned t o t he r egi s t r yt owar ds t he cl ose of t hat f at ef ul year t he f i nal m nut e m ghthave been wr i t t en by Henr y Edwar d Duke, ' ! wi se, super i or andEngl i sh i n t hought " , hi s l oyal c1v11- cser vant i n Dubl i n Cast l e,Si r W l l i am Byr ne, or by t he Chi ef Comm ssi oner , WaI t er Edgewor t h-J ohnst one, " al ways cool as a cucumber " - or by J ohn D1l l on Nugentand t he Anci ent Or der of Hi ber ni ans: f i ni s cor onat opus.


22/22

Ref er enoes ~k,1. Reoo11eot i ons of sur vi vi ng member s of t he D. M. P . ~/ Mr .Pat r i ok Powe~ of Deo1an r oad, Mar i no, and Mr . J O~ Gi 11i ok,Ki 11een r oad, Rat hm nes, Dubl i n, t o whom t he aut hor i si ndebt ed f or muoh baokground i nf ormat i on.2. London, P. R. O~, CO 904/ 174/ 4. The aut hor aoknow1edge~hi s

i ndebt edness al so t o t he st af f of t he Pub1i o Reoor d Of f i oei n London. Exoept wher e ot her wi se i ndi oat ed, t he wor ki s base~ on manusor i pt mat er i al f r om t hi s sour oe.3. A. O. H. , Gener al Rul es: ( Bel f ast , I r i sh News, 1907) .4. J . D. Nugent , The A. O. H. And I t s Cr i t i os ( Dubl i n, Cur t i s ,1911) . To make hi s poi nt Nugent publ i shed f i gur es showi ngt he pr edom nanoe of non- Cat ho1i os i n a wi de r ange of pub1i oand oommer oi a1 posi t i ons f i l l ed by st r ai ght f or war d

nom nat i on of appr oved oandi dat es; f or i nst anoe, i n t hej udi oi a1 syst em ( Cat ho1i o appoi nt ees i n par ent hesi s) :j udges of t he I r i sh Benoh, 16( 3) ; r eoor der s, 5( 1) ; oount yoour t j udges, 22' ( 7) ; benoher s, Ki ngs I nns, 44( 9) ; r esi dentmagi st r at es, 65( 15) ; R. I . C. oount y i nspeot or s, 36( 2) , anddi st r i ot i nspeot or s, 170( 10) .5' . Const abul ar y ( I r el and) Aot , 1836 ( seot i on 17) ; al so Dubl i nPol i ce Act , 1836 ( seot i on 44) . .6. - Gal en Br 0ek. er , Rur al Di sor der and Pol i ce Ref or m i n I r el and( Rout 1edge and Kegan Paul , 1970) p. 1997. Hansar d 1916 Vol 87 col 1018. Desmond Ryan, The Ri si ng ( Dubl i n, Gol den Eagl e, 1949) p. 1189. Si r Henr y Robi nson, Memor i es W se and Ot her wi se ( London,Casse11, 1923) p. 241.1' a. I bi d, pp 245- 611 I bi d, p. 24712. Hansar d, 1916 Vol 86 001 166013. I bi d, Vol 87 001 11514' . I bi d, Vo1 87 001 13015. I bi d, Vo187 001 537. Seor et sooi et i es wer e t he our se ofI r i s h pol i t i cs under Br i t i sh r ul e. See Appendi x f or af or m of Oat h adm ni st er ed t o a new member of a Masoni o Lodgei n t he 19t h oent ur y.161. Hansar d, 1916 Vo1 87 001 496- 717 I bi d, Vo1 87 001 120- 118 I bi d, Vo1 87 001 53719 ~ I bi d, Vol 87 001 1450

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