Criminal Investigation Department (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the Irish Free State
was an armed, plain-clothed counter-insurgency
police unit that operated during the Irish Civil War
. It was organised separately from the unarmed Civic Guard
police force. The unit was formed shortly after the truce with the British
(11 July 1921) and disbanded in October 1923.
and many of its personnel were former Irish Republican Army
fighters whom he had commanded during the Irish War of Independence
. In particular, a number came from the Squad, a Dublin based IRA assassination unit. The unit had close links with the Army Intelligence and with a smaller 'Protective Corps' which was based in the same building, Oriel House
on Westland Row
, Dublin. Initially, they were put under the command of Liam Tobin
. On 31 July 1922, it was taken out of the control of military intelligence and put under the brief of TD
Joseph McGrath
. Its commanding officer was Captain Pat Moynihan. Moynihan was given temporary transfer from his post as Head of Military Intelligence and with the rank of Captain took over Oriel House for this new force.
On 22 August 1922 (the same day as Collins' death in an ambush) the Criminal Investigation Department was officially formed to 'be distinct from existing police forces with separate headquarters under direct control of the Minister for Home Affairs.' It was formed from members of the National Army
and the Irish Republican Police
and was based at Oriel House, Westland Row. It consisted of over 100 heavily armed men and three women detectives who were 'cloaked' as typists and 'engaged in special duties connected with the detection of women engaged in hostilities against the Government.' The unit later reached a peak strength of 350 in February 1923.
Moynihan selected as 'Chief Superintendent', Peter Ennis. Ennis had been the commanding officer of the Irish Republican Police
in Dublin during the 1919–1921 war, and was a brother of General Tom Ennis of the Free State's National Army. Ennis brought with him about fifteen of his old Republican Police to Oriel House and they formed the nucleus of the new 'CID'. Initially it was to have been a military structure, but the 'Privates' of 1922 ended up as 'Detective Officers' by its disbandment in 1923. Broy, Nelligan and MacNamara, of the DMP 'G' Branch were there in the beginning, but all got high ranks in the National Army Intelligence Deptartment and went instead to Wellington Barracks
where their HQ was located
It was also accused of using brutal interrogation techniques and of the assassination of republican suspects and prisoners.
Among a large number of incidents in which the CID was implicated was the killing of five republicans in two separate incidents on 26 and 29 August 1922 and the dumping of the bodies in Drumcondra
and Clondalkin
suburbs. By 9 September, British Intelligence had reported that CID was believed to have, 'killed a number of prominent republicans' in Dublin. There were many other such killings of Anti-Treaty activists by plain-clothed men in the Dublin area during the war, such as Bobby Bondfield in March 1923 and Noel Lemass in July of that year. Senior republican Thomas Derrig also had an eye shot out while in CID custody.
It is possible, however that some of these killings were carried out by other agencies such as elements of the National Army, or by soldiers and CID men, but popularly attributed to 'Oriel House'. In his book-'Salute to the men of '22', Brian O'Higgins documented at least twenty-five murders of Republicans in the Dublin area alone. In the conflict as whole, as many as 153 republican prisoners were summarily executed in the field. (See also: executions during the Irish Civil War
.)
A study of the period concluded, 'Oriel House succeeded in its task of suppressing small scale republican activities in the Dublin area, not by the sophistication and efficiency its intelligence work... but by the more direct method of striking terror into its opponents..
A total of four CID personnel were killed in the war. A number of attempts were also made to blow up Oriel House itself.
as detectives. They later formed the basis of the Garda Special Branch
. The CID as a whole was considered unsuitable for a police force in peacetime. In April 1925 the DMP was amalgamated with the Garda Síochána
.
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
was an armed, plain-clothed counter-insurgency
Counter-insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...
police unit that operated during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
. It was organised separately from the unarmed Civic Guard
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
police force. The unit was formed shortly after the truce with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(11 July 1921) and disbanded in October 1923.
Formation
The CID was created by Michael CollinsMichael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
and many of its personnel were former Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
fighters whom he had commanded during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
. In particular, a number came from the Squad, a Dublin based IRA assassination unit. The unit had close links with the Army Intelligence and with a smaller 'Protective Corps' which was based in the same building, Oriel House
Oriel House, Westland Row
Oriel House, Westland Row is a building at the intersection of Westland Row and Fenian Street in Dublin.It was the headquarters of Dunlop Rubber, and the address at which the original pneumatic tyre patent was draughted in 1893 'for the wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles'.During the Irish...
on Westland Row
Westland Row
Westland Row is a street on the south side of Dublin city, Ireland, dating from the year 1776. It was originally known as Westlands after William Westland who owned property in the area in the 18th century....
, Dublin. Initially, they were put under the command of Liam Tobin
Liam Tobin
Major General Liam Tobin was an Irish statesman and officer in the Irish Army. During the Irish War of Independence, he served as an IRA intelligence officer for Michael Collins' Squad.-Early life:...
. On 31 July 1922, it was taken out of the control of military intelligence and put under the brief of TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
Joseph McGrath
Joseph McGrath (politician)
Joseph McGrath was an Irish politician and businessman. He was a Sinn Féin and later a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála for various constituencies in Dublin and County Mayo and developed widespread business interests.-Political career:McGrath was born in Dublin in 1887...
. Its commanding officer was Captain Pat Moynihan. Moynihan was given temporary transfer from his post as Head of Military Intelligence and with the rank of Captain took over Oriel House for this new force.
On 22 August 1922 (the same day as Collins' death in an ambush) the Criminal Investigation Department was officially formed to 'be distinct from existing police forces with separate headquarters under direct control of the Minister for Home Affairs.' It was formed from members of the National Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
and the Irish Republican Police
Irish Republican Police
The Irish Republican Police was the police force of the 1919-1922 Irish Republic and was administered by the Department for Home Affairs of that government.-Foundation:...
and was based at Oriel House, Westland Row. It consisted of over 100 heavily armed men and three women detectives who were 'cloaked' as typists and 'engaged in special duties connected with the detection of women engaged in hostilities against the Government.' The unit later reached a peak strength of 350 in February 1923.
Moynihan selected as 'Chief Superintendent', Peter Ennis. Ennis had been the commanding officer of the Irish Republican Police
Irish Republican Police
The Irish Republican Police was the police force of the 1919-1922 Irish Republic and was administered by the Department for Home Affairs of that government.-Foundation:...
in Dublin during the 1919–1921 war, and was a brother of General Tom Ennis of the Free State's National Army. Ennis brought with him about fifteen of his old Republican Police to Oriel House and they formed the nucleus of the new 'CID'. Initially it was to have been a military structure, but the 'Privates' of 1922 ended up as 'Detective Officers' by its disbandment in 1923. Broy, Nelligan and MacNamara, of the DMP 'G' Branch were there in the beginning, but all got high ranks in the National Army Intelligence Deptartment and went instead to Wellington Barracks
Griffith Barracks
Griffith Barracks is a former military barracks located on the South Circular Road, Dublin, Ireland.-History:The site of Griffith Barracks was originally known as Grimswoods Nurseries. The first buildings on the site were those of a Remand Prison or Bridewell. Begun in 1813 by the architect Francis...
where their HQ was located
During the Civil War
During the conflict of 1922–1923, the CID was responsible for the arrest of over 500 Anti-Treaty IRA fighters as well as the seizure of much weaponry and documentation. It had files on over 2,500 republican suspects.It was also accused of using brutal interrogation techniques and of the assassination of republican suspects and prisoners.
Among a large number of incidents in which the CID was implicated was the killing of five republicans in two separate incidents on 26 and 29 August 1922 and the dumping of the bodies in Drumcondra
Drumcondra, Dublin
Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
and Clondalkin
Clondalkin
-Today:Modern Clondalkin is a busy satellite town of Dublin, with a population of 43,929 in 2006. Retail facilities include Tesco Ireland- and Dunnes Stores-led shopping centres, and Aldi and Lidl stores on the Fonthill Road and New Nangor Road respectively, and the village centre is a base for...
suburbs. By 9 September, British Intelligence had reported that CID was believed to have, 'killed a number of prominent republicans' in Dublin. There were many other such killings of Anti-Treaty activists by plain-clothed men in the Dublin area during the war, such as Bobby Bondfield in March 1923 and Noel Lemass in July of that year. Senior republican Thomas Derrig also had an eye shot out while in CID custody.
It is possible, however that some of these killings were carried out by other agencies such as elements of the National Army, or by soldiers and CID men, but popularly attributed to 'Oriel House'. In his book-'Salute to the men of '22', Brian O'Higgins documented at least twenty-five murders of Republicans in the Dublin area alone. In the conflict as whole, as many as 153 republican prisoners were summarily executed in the field. (See also: executions during the Irish Civil War
Executions during the Irish Civil War
The executions during the Irish Civil War took place during the guerrilla phase of the Irish Civil War . This phase of the war was bitter, and both sides, the government forces of the Irish Free State and the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army insurgents, used executions and terror in what...
.)
A study of the period concluded, 'Oriel House succeeded in its task of suppressing small scale republican activities in the Dublin area, not by the sophistication and efficiency its intelligence work... but by the more direct method of striking terror into its opponents..
A total of four CID personnel were killed in the war. A number of attempts were also made to blow up Oriel House itself.
Disbandment
On 29 October 1923 the Oriel House CID was disbanded and 30 of its members were transferred to the Dublin Metropolitan PoliceDublin Metropolitan Police
The Dublin Metropolitan Police was the police force of Dublin, Ireland, from 1836 to 1925, when it amalgamated into the new Garda Síochána.-19th century:...
as detectives. They later formed the basis of the Garda Special Branch
Special Detective Unit
The Special Detective Unit is a unit of an Garda Síochána under its Crime & Security Branch. They are a replacement for the older Special Branch unit, which itself replaced the CID in 1923...
. The CID as a whole was considered unsuitable for a police force in peacetime. In April 1925 the DMP was amalgamated with the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
.
Sources
- http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-820426-4.pdf
- http://www.esatclear.ie/~garda/issues.html