James Flanagan (RUC)
Encyclopedia
Sir James Bernard Flanagan, KBE
(15 January 1914 – 4 April 1999) was the only Roman Catholic Chief Constable
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC). There was also later a Roman Catholic Deputy Chief Constable, Michael McAtamney.
Known as "Jamie Flanagan", he was born in Derry
, Ireland
. Jamie Flanagan was no relation of the other, better-known, RUC Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan
. His father was a sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary
. In 1934 Jamie Flanagan joined the RUC. In 1939 he was transferred from Downpatrick
to County Fermanagh
and was made Sergeant. In the same year he married Florence Acheson, a Protestant
. In 1941 he was appointed Head Constable in Derry
. In 1942 he became a District Inspector and was transferred to the security control unit which had sensitive wartime responsibilities.
In 1945 he was seconded for duty with the British mission to Greece
and served there until 1952. He also received an MBE
. He returned to the RUC, working in B Division of West Belfast
in the late 1950s.
In 1961 he was promoted to County Inspector and received an OBE
just before the outbreak of the Troubles
in June 1968. In June 1970 he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable and in July 1973 he received a CBE
, becoming Chief Constable on 1 November 1973, replacing Graham Shillington.
In June 1975 he received a knighthood and retired in April 1976. Having been targeted by Republicans
while attending mass, he was forced to retire to England
.The Independent 20 April 1999
of 1974 and the Provisional Irish Republican Army
's (IRA) temporary ceasefire in 1975. There were many, including senior members of the power-sharing executive forced out of office by the strike, who felt that the RUC did not act vigorously enough against the strikers. The police however, did not control security policy in regard to the Troubles during this period - which was instead decided by the Army
.
Some felt that the RUC went easy on the IRA due to being manipulated politically. Flanagan felt that some in the hierarchy of his own church treated him with a certain coolness.
He died on 4 April 1999, aged 85.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(15 January 1914 – 4 April 1999) was the only Roman Catholic Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC). There was also later a Roman Catholic Deputy Chief Constable, Michael McAtamney.
Known as "Jamie Flanagan", he was born in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Jamie Flanagan was no relation of the other, better-known, RUC Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan
Ronnie Flanagan
Sir Ronald Flanagan, GBE, QPM, was the Home Office Chief Inspector of Constabulary for the United Kingdom excluding Scotland...
. His father was a sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary
Royal Irish Constabulary
The armed Royal Irish Constabulary was Ireland's major police force for most of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. A separate civic police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan Police controlled the capital, and the cities of Derry and Belfast, originally with their own police...
. In 1934 Jamie Flanagan joined the RUC. In 1939 he was transferred from Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
to County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
and was made Sergeant. In the same year he married Florence Acheson, a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
. In 1941 he was appointed Head Constable in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. In 1942 he became a District Inspector and was transferred to the security control unit which had sensitive wartime responsibilities.
In 1945 he was seconded for duty with the British mission to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and served there until 1952. He also received an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. He returned to the RUC, working in B Division of West Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in the late 1950s.
In 1961 he was promoted to County Inspector and received an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
just before the outbreak of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in June 1968. In June 1970 he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable and in July 1973 he received a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, becoming Chief Constable on 1 November 1973, replacing Graham Shillington.
In June 1975 he received a knighthood and retired in April 1976. Having been targeted by Republicans
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
while attending mass, he was forced to retire to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.The Independent 20 April 1999
Not a 'political' Chief
Although Flanagan avoided political comment, his tenure as Chief Constable was marked by controversy. It coincided with the Ulster Workers' Council StrikeUlster Workers' Council Strike
The Ulster Workers' Council strike was a general strike that took place in Northern Ireland between 15 May and 28 May 1974, during "The Troubles". The strike was called by loyalists and unionists who were against the Sunningdale Agreement, which had been signed in December 1973...
of 1974 and the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
's (IRA) temporary ceasefire in 1975. There were many, including senior members of the power-sharing executive forced out of office by the strike, who felt that the RUC did not act vigorously enough against the strikers. The police however, did not control security policy in regard to the Troubles during this period - which was instead decided by the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Some felt that the RUC went easy on the IRA due to being manipulated politically. Flanagan felt that some in the hierarchy of his own church treated him with a certain coolness.
He died on 4 April 1999, aged 85.