R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...

Page created by Kent Elliott
 
CONTINUE READING
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
The History of the
Garda Síochána Retired
 Members Association
       (GSRMA)

            r
      50th Anniversary
        1961 - 2011

  Fidelity and Justice
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
Fi deli ty an d J ust i ce

    Message from Tony Sourke,
    President, Garda Síochána Retired Members’
    Association

    I
         am honoured and humbled to address you, the
         members of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’
         Association, as your President. It gives me great
    pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to all our members
    on this the year of our 50th anniversary.

    On September 14th it will be my privilege to welcome Her
    Excellency, President Mary McAleese, Senator Dr Martin
    McAleese, Mr Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice and
    Equality and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan to our
    50th anniversary celebrations in Westmanstown Sports and
    Recreation Club.

    The first committee, whose names are listed in this
    special edition of Síocháin, worked tirelessly to set up the
    structure of the successful organisation that we have today.
    Having helped to establish the Irish State and maintain
    its democratic institutions, in retirement they continued
    to work in a dignified and selfless manner to promote the
    interests of retired members of An Garda Síochána in a
    positive way. Successive energetic committees continued
    this pioneering work that has continued up to the
    present day.

    It is with deep respect and reverence that we honour
    those founding fathers; we salute their achievements and
    acknowledge the role played by their families. I look forward
    to meeting the large number of our guests, from all parts of
    the country, attending the event.                               Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad.

    In conclusion we remember all members of An Garda               Tony Sourke
    Síochána, serving and retired, who have passed to their         President.
    eternal reward.                                                 Garda Siochana Retired Members’ Association.

2
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

Message from Alan Shatter TD,
Minister for Justice and Equality, to the Garda
Síochána Retired Members’ Association

I
    am delighted to be given this opportunity to wish a             on your experience and
    very happy 50th anniversary to all the members of the           example.
    Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association and
your families.                                                      Each of you will have
                                                                    lived through periods
In a few years we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary         of change in An Garda
of the foundation of this State. This State has its beginnings      Síochána. In 1959
in the aftermath of a war of independence and a civil war.          the first female gardaí
It was a difficult time for all those involved in the process       were appointed and we
of government, for all those involved in upholding the law.         remember them today
In order to survive these early years the State needed a law        and the enormous
enforcement body that was absolutely fair and impartial and         contribution that women have made to the organisation
above politics. An Garda Síochána provided this service             and to this association. We must also acknowledge those
from the outset. The State is deeply indebted to you and            members who performed peace keeping duties overseas and
your predecessors for your service and your professionalism.        who were global ambassadors for this country. Most of all
It is appropriate at this time to reflect on the invaluable         we remember with the deepest respect all of those who lost
contribution made by members of the Force to the building           their lives in the line of duty.
of modern Ireland.
                                                                    An Garda Síochána has a proud tradition of support for
Members now retired have served this country well through           its members and in the last 50 years your organisation has
some difficult and turbulent times and this will not be             continued to provide this support for retired members.
forgotten. Many of the young members today will not                 Not only have you supported each other but you have
remember the time when part of the island was in the grip           contributed to many charitable organisations with your
of sectarian and political strife. Members of An Garda              time and your money. This is yet another example of what
Síochána lost their lives in the fight against terrorism and        An Garda Síochána do best, looking out for the most
we remember them today. The threat from terrorists has              vulnerable in our society.
changed, but the gardaí continue to protect the citizens
from those who want to defy the democratic will of the              I thank you for the excellence of your service over the years
overwhelming majority of people on this island. The                 and wish you and your families well. I congratulate this
challenges for today’s gardaí are as great as ever with the         Association on this important anniversary and wish you
increase in gangland crime and dealing with communities             continued success in the future.
devastated from the ravages of drug abuse. Your legacy is
not just to the State but to today’s Force which can draw           Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice and Equality

                                                                                                                                    3
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
Fi deli ty an d J ust i ce

    BACKGROUND                                                     They were very disappointed in December 1960, when

    A
              n Garda Síochána was founded in February,            a Government order was made to merge rent allowance
              1922. By the late 1950s to early 1960s many          permanently into the pay structure for serving members.
              of the first generation gardaí had retired. While    The rent allowance therefore no longer existed and the
    serving in the Force they lived in official accommodation      question of making it pensionable did not apply. The rights
    or received a small rent allowance annually from the State.    of the garda pensioners were either forgotten or deliberately
    Suddenly, after retiring, they realised they had to find       ignored by the State.
    alternative accommodation and exist on a pension. Some
    found it difficult to survive and emigrated overseas to seek   Their definition of ‘Parity’
    employment to support their family.                            “That irrespective of the date of retirement, a garda pension
                                                                   should be automatically adjusted so that it would be the same as
    On September 10th 1960, 19 garda pensioners met in             the pension of a garda of equivalent rank and service, who had
    the Queen’s Hotel, Cork to discuss their grievances. Cork      just retired on pension, whether that be then or in the future.”
    was also the base for the Garda Síochána Pensioners’
    Organisation (GSPO) that was founded in 1951 and               This dream was eventually realised on Budget Day, 1984,
    absorbed into the new association. In September 1960           when full parity was implemented by the Government.
    the Cork comrades did not realise that throughout the
    country garda pensioners were gathering and forming            Officers elected at Moran’s
    support groups.                                                Hotel, Dublin, January, 18th 1961
                                                                   The following officers were elected and the meeting was
    In early January, 1961, retired Garda Sergeant Tom             adjourned for one week.
    Madden wrote three letters to the Dublin Evening Mail
    highlighting the injustice of the meagre pensions paid to      Chairman: Daniel Brosnan
    retired members. The feedback was instantaneous and            Vice Chairmen: Peter Heffernan/Tom Keyes
    resulted in 40 retired colleagues attending a meeting at       Hon. Secretary: Tom Conway
    Moran’s Hotel, Talbot Street, Dublin on Wednesday,             Hon. Treasurer: Tom O’ Leary
    January 18th 1961.
                                                                   At the subsequent meeting held at Moran’s Hotel, in
                                                                   January 1961 the following committee was elected:
                                                                   Eugene Farrelly
                                                                   Michael Conlon
                                                                   Tom Madden
                                                                   James Cahill
                                                                   Frank O’Hehir
                                                                   Jim Finnerty
                                                                   Patrick O’ Sullivan

                                                                   A third meeting was scheduled for Moran’s Hotel, on
                                                                   Monday, February 6th 1961 and it was agreed that all
                                                                   those attending should contribute a half-crown to fund
    Their major grievances at the time were that they wanted       the organisation.
    parity of pensions with gardaí who were retiring at that
    time and in the future. A garda pensioner who retired in       Meeting at Moran’s Hotel –
    1955 had 24 per cent less of a pension than that his 1961      February 6th 1961
    retired colleague. These retired gardaí, while serving in      There was huge enthusiasm when over 200 retired gardaí
    the Force, had pushed to have the garda rent allowance         assembled at Moran’s Hotel, Talbot Street, Dublin
    of approximately £18 per annum made pensionable.               on Monday, February 6th 1961 for the official launch

4
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

of the Garda Síochána Pensioners’ Association. The               distribute free of charge,
meeting agreed to prepare a memorandum to present                a quarterly pensioners’
to the Government outlining their case for increasing            journal, if the association
garda retirement pensions. A committee meeting was               could supply 20 pages
scheduled for the February 27th 1961 to examine a draft          of advertisements. The
copy of the memorandum. Tom O’ Leary (treasurer)                 name given to the new
had no difficulty collecting the half-crown contribution         journal was An Síothadóir
to fund the new association. Membership was open to all          which means pacifier or
in receipt of a pension for service in An Garda Síochána         person who keeps the
and to widows whose husbands served in the Force. The            peace. Tom Keyes was
pressure of administrative work led to the secretary resigning   appointed manager and
to concentrate on his own employment. The Central                Tom O’ Leary, editor.
Committee then appointed Michael Conlon as acting                The very first issue
secretary with Tom O’ Leary becoming organising secretary        of An Síothadóir was
as well as treasurer.                                            published in January,
                                                                 1962. John Nolan, a retired garda who worked for the
Shortly afterwards the Central Committee expanded and the        publishers, did marvellous work for many years collecting
following were co-opted:                                         the advertisements for the journal. Later the title of the
Seán Liddy (President)                                           journal was changed to Síocháin and in January, 1971,
Robert Wolfe (Vice-President)                                    retired Garda Sergeant Ted Cahill was appointed the new
Denis McCarthy (Cork)                                            manager to oversee its publication.
Paddy Brogan (Cork)
                                                                 The first AGM
Joint Consultative Council                                       On February 7th 1962, Moran’s Hotel, Dublin was the
On September 26th 1961, the Garda Síochána Pensioners            venue for the first AGM of the new association. A total
Association joined the Joint Consultative Council which          of 600 representatives countrywide assembled to witness
represented retired State servants, including retired teachers   proceedings opened by Daniel Brosnan, Chairman of
and army officers.                                               Central Committee. In his first presidential address, Seán
                                                                 Liddy stated: “All great movements have small beginnings
                                                                 and, as you are aware the embryo of our association came
                                                                 to life here on the 6th of February 1961, and tonight we
                                                                 celebrate its anniversary.”

                                                                 Records show many country branches were well represented
                                                                 with delegates from Ballina, Ballinasloe, Ballinrobe,
                                                                 Boyle, Buncrana, Castlerea, Claremorris, Clonmel, Cork,
                                                                 Drogheda, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway, Gorey, Loughrea,
                                                                 Killaloe, Kilrush, Sligo, Swinford, Thurles, Templemore
                                                                 and Wexford.

                                                                 Speakers at the first AGM were Daniel Brosnan; Tom
An Síothadóir                                                    Keyes (Vice Chairman); James Cahill, Tom Madden; Denis
The new Central Committee realised the need for a journal        McCarty (Cork) and TS McDonagh (Dundalk).
like the Garda Review to communicate with retired gardaí.
Capt. DJ O’ Kelly, (the first editor of the Garda Review)        The following Central Committee elected in 1962,
made a proposition that the firm of Cahill & Co, Parkside        remained almost unchanged up to the time of President
Press, Parkgate Street, Dublin, would print, publish and         Liddy’s death in March, 1965.

                                                                                                                              5
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
Fid eli ty an d Justi ce

    President: Seán Liddy                                          Committee: Mrs Alice Flanagan, Mrs Elizabeth Gallagher,
    V. President: Robert Wolfe                                     Mrs Margaret McGilloway, Mrs Nora O’ Halloran, and Mrs
    Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                                       Christina Sinnott.
    V. Chairmen: Tom Keyes and Peter Heffernan
    Gen. Secretary: Tom O’Leary                                    Mrs Quigley held the office of President for ten years.
    Treasurer: Eugene Farelly
    Committee: Tom Madden, Frank O’ Hehir, Patrick                 The committee nominated two representatives to attend
    O’ Sullivan, Denis McCarthy, Paddy Brogan, Archie              Central Committee meetings. After establishing the
    McAllister, John Berry.                                        Widows’ Committee, the Central Committee did marvellous
                                                                   work in persuading the Government, in 1962, to increase
    By December, 1961, membership of the association               the minimum scale for widows from £59 to £98 per annum
    reached 1,400 and the first central office was opened          plus a substantial increase in children’s allowance.
    at 38 Westmoreland Street, Dublin. Later, the annual
    membership fee was doubled to meet the expense of moving       In 1986, the ladies committee was disbanded because,
    to a new office at 43 Dawson Street in October 1962.           by then, they were part of improved branch committee
    Records show that the rent agreed for Dawson Street Office     structure which was able to nominate widows and retired
    was £15 per quarter. In October 1973, the central office       members to the Central Committee of the association.
    was located at 32 Nassau Street. When that lease expired
    in April 1999, the Central Committee made a decision to        AGM – Tuesday, March 3rd 1964
    transfer head office to its true home at the Garda Club,       The third AGM saw Moran’s Hotel packed to capacity with
    Harrington Street, Dublin 8.                                   at least 200 people unable to gain admission. The Central
                                                                   Committee realised that in future they would have to seek a
    Inauguration of a Widows’                                      larger venue.
    Committee
    In 1952, Garda Martin Quigley, Irishtown Station Dublin,       President Seán Liddy informed those present that both
    died leaving his widow Elizabeth to rear their seven           he and Tom O’ Leary had travelled to the Irish Club in
    children. Four years later, Mrs Quigley carried-out a survey   London during the year to establish a new branch of the
    to establish the names of other garda widows. Through          association. Seventy-five retired gardaí attended the London
    her voluntary work, she corresponded with many garda           meeting. They emigrated after giving a lifetime of valuable
    widows and built a support group. A ladies’ branch of          service because they could not afford to live here on their
    the Garda Síochána Pensioners Association was officially       miserable pensions. Most of them were still paying for their
    launched at Moran’s Hotel, Dublin on the July 24th 1962.       families’ education back home.
    President Seán
    Liddy along with
    Vice Chairman
    Tom Keyes were
    present at the
    inauguration.
    The new ladies
    committee elected
    were:
    President: Mrs
    Elizabeth Quigley
    Hon. Secretary:
    Mrs Marjorie Ellis
    Treasurer:
    Mrs Elizabeth
    Cummins

6
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

LIST OF CENTRAL                          Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                   Patrick E. Sheahan, Marjorie Ellis,
                                         Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                    Christina Sinnott.
COMMITTEES                               Committee: Eugene Farrelly, Denis
                                         Connolly, Tom Keyes, Tom Madden,           1975
1966                                     Frank O’ Hehir.                            President: Alfred I. Flood
President: Seán Hughes                                                              Chairman: Tom O’ Leary
Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                 1971                                       Gen. Sec.: Tom Costello
Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                  President: Seán Hughes                     Committee: Denis Connolly, Seán
Committee: Eugene Farrelly,              Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                   Hughes, Tom Collins, Tom Keyes,
Denis Connolly, Tom Keyes, Peter         Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                    Pat Campbell, Tom Delaney, Bill
Heffernan, Patrick O’ Sullivan,          Committee: Eugene Farrelly,Denis           Isdell, Seán MacBrinn, A. McAllister,
Frank O’ Hehir, Tom Madden, John         Connolly, Tom Keyes, Tom Madden,           Malachy Tuohy, Patrick O’ Sullivan,
Berry, A. McAllister, Bill Isdell, Pat   John Berry, Pat Campbel, Bill Isdell,      Patrick E. Sheahan, John Cashin,
Campbell, Elizabeth Quigley, Marjorie    A. McAllister, Frank O’ Hehir, Patrick     James Callery, Dan Brosnan, Eugene
Ellis.                                   O’ Sullivan, Peter Shiel, Tom Cahill,      Farrelly, Marjorie Ellis Teresa Coffey.
                                         Elizabeth Quigley, Marjorie Ellis.
1967                                                                                1976
President: Seán Hughes                   1972                                       President: Alfred I. Flood
Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                 President: Alfred I. Flood                 Chairman: Tom O’ Leary
Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                  Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                   Gen. Sec.: Tom Costello
Committee: Eugene Farrelly, Denis        Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                    Committee: Denis Connolly, Eugene
Connolly, Frank O’ Hehir, Peter          Committee: Eugene Farrelly, Denis          Farrelly, Tom Collins, Frank O’ Hehir,
Shiel, John Berry, Tom Madden, A.        Connolly, John Berry, Seán Hughes,         Pat Campbell, Tom Delaney, Bill
McAllister, Pat Campbell, Elizabeth      Tom Keyes, Pat Campbell, Ted Cahill,       Isdell, A. McAllister, John Cashin,
Quigley, Marjorie Ellis.                 A. McAllister, Frank O’ Hehir, Peter       James Callery, Herbert Lee, Vincent
                                         Shiel, Patrick E. Sheahan, Marjorie        Collins, Marjorie Ellis, Lillian Hyland.
1968                                     Ellis, Christina Sinnott.
President: Seán Hughes                                                              1977
Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                 1973                                       President: Alfred I. Flood
Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                  President: Alfred I. Flood                 Chairman: Tom O’ Leary
Committee: Peter Shiel, Denis            Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                   Gen. Sec.: Tom Costello
Connolly, Frank O’ Hehir, Eugene         Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                    Committee: Bill Isdell, Eugene
Farrelly, John McBrien, Michael Kiely,   Committee: Eugene Farrelly, Seán           Farrelly, Frank O’ Hehir, Denis
Tom Madden, Elizabeth Quigley,           Hughes, Denis Connolly, Tom Keyes,         Connolly, Tom Collins, Pat Campbell,
Marjorie Ellis.                          John Berry, Pat Campbell, Ted Cahill,      Tom Delaney, A. McAllister, John
                                         Bill Isdell, A. McAllister, Frank O’       Cashill, James Callery, Herbert Lee,
1969                                     Hehir, Patrick O’ Sullivan, Peter Shiel,   Marjorie Ellis, Lillian Hyland.
President: Seán Hughes                   Patrick E. Sheahan, Marjorie Ellis,
Chairman: Daniel Brosnan                 Christina Sinnott.                         1978
Gen. Sec.: Tom O’ Leary                                                             President: Alfred I. Flood
Committee: Eugene Farrelly, Denis        1974                                       Chairman: Tom O’ Leary
Connolly, John Berry, J. Cronin, Frank   President: Alfred I. Flood                 Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane
O’ Hehir, A. McAllister, Peter Shiel,    Chairman: Tom O’ Leary                     Committee: Tom Collins, Pat
Seán Flase, Pat Campbell, J. Molloy,     Gen. Sec.: Tom Costello                    Campbell, Frank O’ Hehir, Tom
TJ Casey, Tom Madden, Marjorie           Committee: Eugene Farrelly, Seán           Costello, Bill Isdell, Eugene Farrelly,
Ellis, Elizabeth Quigley.                Hughes, Denis Connolly, Tom Keyes,         Tom Delaney, A. McAllister, John
                                         John Berry, Pat Campbell, Ted Cahill,      Cashin, James Callery, Herbert Lee,
1970                                     Bill Isdell, A McAllister, Frank O’        Marjorie Ellis, Lillian Hyland.
President: Seán Hughes                   Hehir, Patrick O’ Sullivan, Peter Shiel,

                                                                                                                               7
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
Fid el i ty an d Justi ce

    1979                                       Michael Sutton, John Cashin, Tom          Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald
    President: Alfred I. Flood                 Costello, Paddy Driscoll, Redmond         Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane
    Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                   Shea, Patrick Clerkin, Bill Isdell,       Committee: Patrick Clerkin,
    Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                    William Farrell, Lillian Hyland, Helena   Patrick Dunne, Paddy Driscoll PJ
    Committee: Bill Isdell, Tom Collins,       Glynn.                                    Rogan, Tom Ryan, Dave Dillane,
    Eugene Farrelly, Pat Campbell, James                                                 John Hartigan, Michael Sutton,
    Callery, John Cashin, Tom Costello,        1984                                      Frank White, Helena Glynn, Kay O’
    Tom Delaney, Paddy Driscoll, Herbert       President: Alfred I. Flood                Shaughnessy.
    Lee, Dan O’ Donovan, Tom O’ Leary,         Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald
    Marjorie Ellis, Lillian Hyland.            Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                   1989
                                               Committee: Herbert Lee, James             President: Paddy Driscoll
    1980                                       Callery, Eugene Farrelly, Tom             Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald
    President: Alfred I. Flood                 Delaney, Michael Sutton, John Cashin,     Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane
    Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                   Tom Costello, Redmond Shea, Patrick       Committee: Michael Bohan, Dave
    Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                    Clerkin, Bill Isdell, William Farrell,    Dillane, Dave Devaney, Tom Ryan,
    Committee: Tom Collins, Eugene             Dave Dillane, Paddy Driscoll, Frank       PJ Rogan, Seán Murray, Frank White,
    Farrelly, Tom Delaney, John Cashin,        White, Lillian Hyland, Helena Glynn.      Helena Glynn, Kay O’ Shaughnessy,
    Tom Costello, Paddy Driscoll, Bill                                                   Brid Reid.
    Isdell, Herbert Lee, Dan O’ Donovan,       1985
    Lilian Hyland, Helena Glynn.               President: Alfred I. Flood                1990
                                               Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                  President: Paddy Driscoll
    1981                                       Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                   Chairman: Tom Ryan
    President: Alfred I. Flood                 Committee: John Cashin, Patrick           Gen. Sec.: Frank White
    Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                   Clerkin, Tom Delaney, Dave Dillane,       Committee: Michael Bohan, Dave
    Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                    Paddy Driscoll, Bill Isdell, Redmond      Dillane, Seán Murray, PJ Rogan,
    Committee: Tom Collins, Eugene             Shea, Michael Sutton, James               James Callery, David Devaney, Joe
    Farrelly, James Callery, Tom Dellaney,     McGreedy, Lillian Hyland, Helena          Wilson, Don Boyle, Peg McNamara,
    John Cashin, Paddy Driscoll, Dan O’        Glynn.                                    Brid Reid, Bernie Morrisey.
    Donovan, Tom O’ Leary, Herbert
    Lee, Bill Isdell, Michael Sutton, Lilian   1986                                      1991
    Hyland, Helena Glynn.                      President: James Callery                  President: Paddy Driscoll
                                               Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                  Chairman: Tom Ryan
    1982                                       Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                   Gen. Sec.: Frank White
    President: Alfred I. Flood                 Committee: Paddy Driscoll, Michael        Committee: Michael Bohan, Joe
    Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                   Sutton, Tom Delaney, John Cashin,         Wilson, Dave Dillane, Dave Devaney,
    Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                    Patrick Clerkin, Redmond Shea, Dave       Seán Murray, PJ Rogan, Pat Quinn,
    Committee: Herbert Lee, James              Dillane, Frank White, Helena Glynn,       John Hartigan, Paddy McGinley,
    Callery, Eugene Farrelly, Tom              Kay O’ Shaughnessy, Lillian Hyland.       Bernie Morrissey.
    Delaney, Michael Sutton, John
    Cashin, Tom Costello, Paddy Driscoll,      1987                                      1992
    Redmond Shea, Patrick Clerkin, Bill        President: James Callery                  President: Dave Dillane
    Isdell, William Farrell, Lillian Hyland,   Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                  Chairman: Tom Ryan
    Helena Glynn.                              Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                   Gen. Sec.: Frank White
                                               Committee: John Cashill, Patrick          Committee: Paddy McGinley, Bríd
    1983                                       Clerkin, Dave Dillane, John Hartigan,     Reid, Bernie Morrissey, Seán Murray,
    President: Alfred I. Flood                 Tom Ryan, Michael Sutton, Paddy           John Hartigan, PJ Rogan, Michael
    Chairman: Jim Fitzgerald                   Driscoll, Kay O’ Shaughnessy.             Bohan, Joe Wilson, Pat Quinn, Dave
    Gen. Sec.: Dan Spillane                                                              Devaney, Don Boyle.
    Committee: Herbert Lee, Eugene             1988
    Farrelly, James Callery, Tom Delaney,      President: James Callery

8
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

1993                                     1998                                   Durcan, John Hartigan, Christy
President: Dave Dillane                  President: Seán Murray                 Lonergan, Grace Lyden, Attracta
Chairman: Tom Ryan                       Chairman: Dave Devaney                 Lynch, Joe Storey, John Thornhill.
Gen. Sec.: Frank White                   Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle
Committee: Tom Hennessy, Peter           Committee: PJ Rogan, Tom Ryan,         2004 to 2006
McGing, Paddy McGinley, John             Phil Callanan, Dave Devaney, John      President: John Hickey
Mulcair, Seán Murray, Paddy Driscoll,    Hickey, Peter McGing, Jim Cannon,      Chairman: John Durcan
Bríd Reid, PJ Rogan, Joe Wilson, Dave    Dave Dillane, Hue Gallagher, Tom       Gen. Sec.: Gerard Lovett
Devaney.                                 Hennessy.                              Committee: Pádraic Costell, John
                                                                                Hartigan, Jim Cannon, Pat Doherty,
1994                                     1999                                   Joe Dunleavy, John Hennessy, Jim
President: Dave Dillane                  President: Seán Murray                 Joyce, Christy Lonergan, Grace Lyden,
Chairman: Tom Ryan                       Chairman: Dave Devaney                 PJ Rogan, Tony Sourke, Joe Storey,
Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                     Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                   John Thornhill.
Committee: PJ Rogan, Tom Ryan,           Committee: Phil Callanan, Jim
Seán Murray, Pat Fitzgerald, Bríd        Cannon, John Durcan, Pat Fitzgerald,   2006 to 2008
Reid, Dave Devaney, Tom Hennessy,        Tom Hennessy, John Hickey, Peter       President: Pádraic Costello
Pat Quinn, Peter McGinley, Dan           McGinley, PJ Rogan, Tom Ryan, Dave     Chairman: John Durcan
Kenny, Paddy McGinley, John              Dillane, Hue Gallagher, Dan McCann,    Gen. Sec.: Gerard Lovett
Mulcair.                                 Pádraic Costello.                      Committee: Cathal Murphy, Tony
                                                                                Sourke, John Hartigan, Gerry Buckley,
1995                                     2000                                   Jim Cannon, Joe Dunleavy, Fintan
President: Tom Ryan                      President: Seán Murray                 Dunne, Christy Lonergan, Grace
Chairman: PJ Rogan                       Chairman: Dave Devaney                 Lyden, Charlie McCarron, John F.
Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                     Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                   Murray, Tony Sourke, Joe Storey, John
Committee: Phil Callanan, Joe            Committee: Tom Hennessy, Peter         Thornhill.
Wilson, Dave Dillane, Dave Devaney,      McGing, Hue Gallagher, John Durcan,
Peter McGing, Pat Quinn, Brid Reid,      Jim Cannon, Christy Lonergan, Phil     2008 to 2010
Tom Hennessy, Paddy McGinley.            Callanan, Joe Wilson, John Hickey,     President: Pádraic Costello
                                         Seán Cashman, Padraic Costello, Pat    Chairman: Cathal Murphy
1996                                     Fitzgerald.                            Gen. Sec.: Gerard Lovett
President: Tom Ryan                                                             Committee: Charlie McCarron,
Chairman: PJ Rogan                       2001                                   Tony Sourke, John Hartigan, Gerry
Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                     President: PJ Rogan                    Buckley, Noel Campbell, Jim Cannon,
Committee: Phil Callanan, Dave           Chairman: Phil Callanan                Joe Dunleavy, Fintan Dunne,
Devaney, Dave Dillane, Pat Fitzgerald,   Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                   John Durcan, Pat Lehane, Christy
Tom Hennessy, John Mulcair, Peter        Committee: John Hickey, Pádraic        Lonergan, Grace Lyden, Charlie
McGing, Brid Reid, Joe Wilson, John      Costello, Jim Cannon, Seán Cashman,    McCarron, John F. Murray.
Hickey, Dan McCann, Frank White.         Peter Donelon, John Durcan, Pat
                                         Fitzgerald, John Hennessy, Christy     2010 to 2012
1997                                     Lonergan, Attracta Lynch, Paddy O’     President: Tony Sourke
President: Tom Ryan                      Brien, Joe Storey, John Thornhill.     Chairman: Charlie McCarron
Chairman: PJ Rogan                                                              Gen. Sec.: Gerard Lovett (2010) John
Gen. Sec.: Don Boyle                     2002 to 2004                           Rafter (2011)
Committee: Dave Devaney, Tom             President: PJ Rogan                    Committee: Gerry Blake, Grace
Hennessy, John Hickey, Phil Callanan,    Chairman: John Hennessy                Lyden, Fintan Dunne, Tim Bowe,
Dave Dillane, Pat Fitzgerald, Dan        Gen. Sec.: Eddie O’ Donovan            Noel Campbell, Pádraic Costello, John
Kenny, Joe Wilson, Peter McGing.         Committee: John Hickey, Paddy O’       Durcan, Paschal Feeney, Tom Griffin,
                                         Brien, Phil Callanan, Seán Cashman,    John Hartigan, Pat Lehane, Christy
                                         Pádraic Costello, Pat Doherty, John    Lonergan, Noel McCarthy.

                                                                                                                        9
R (GSRMA) THE HISTORY OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION - FIDELITY AND JUSTICE - GARDA RETIRED | GARDA SIOCHANA PENSIONERS ...
Fid el i ty an d Justi ce

     FOUNDING MEMBERS
     Below is a brief profile of    duty at this point after 12      negotiating skills came
     the founding members of        noon on this date will be        to good use after he was
     our Association.               shot down without further        unanimously elected
                                    notice.” By 11am a large         chairman. For the following
                                    crowd had gathered and           13 years, Daniel Brosnan
                                    remained to see if Madden        was the driving force
                                    would be shot. Madden            and chairman behind the
                                    stayed on the point until        Central Committee of the
                                    1pm and returned to it again     Association.
                                    at 2pm. Nothing happened.
                                    He returned to the DMA
                                    in 1928, was promoted to
                                    sergeant in 1937 and retired                                       Tom O’ Leary
     Tom Madden                     in 1960. In January 1961 he                                        Tom O’ Leary was born
     Tom Madden was born            wrote the three letters to the                                     in Lisdoonvarna, Co.
     in Castlebar in 1899 and       Dublin Evening Mail that                                           Clare. Tom, with Reg.
     joined An Garda Síochána       led to the formation of the                                        No. 5343, spent most
     in 1922. He was one of the     Garda Síochána Pensioners’                                         of his garda service as a
     station party sent to open     Association. He later served                                       Weights and Measures
     Mullingar Garda Barracks       for many years on the            Thomas Keyes                      inspector with Dublin
     in September 1922. On          Central Committee of the         Tom Keyes was one of the          Corporation. He retired
     November 8th of that year,     association.                     first vice chairmen of the        from An Garda Síochána
     along with 80 gardaí under                                      Central Committee and was         in June 1952. In January
     Superintendent Cullen, he                                       appointed manager to An           1961 he was a founding
     set off from South Wall,                                        Síothadóir journal in 1962.       member and first treasurer
     Dublin on the S.S. Munster                                      Hailing from Tipperary, he        of the Garda Pensioners’
     with a task to make-up a                                        joined An Garda Síochána          Association. Elected general
     station party for Cork city.                                    in March, 1922 and was            secretary in 1962 he held
     The Cork barracks was sited                                     promoted to sergeant six          the office for ten years.
     initially at the School of                                      months later. He was sent         In October 1973, he was
     Music and later at Moore’s                                      with a party of eight to          elected Central Committee
     Hotel. He had his share of                                      open Raphoe Station and           chairman. During his term
     danger and excitement in       Daniel Brosnan                   seven months later was            in office, the Association
     those turbulent times in       Daniel Brosnan was a             promoted to inspector and         set-up a network of
     Cork city. One outstanding     Kerryman who rose through        assigned to New Ross.             branches throughout the
     incident occurred in the       the ranks from sergeant in       Promoted superintendent           country. As editor of An
     spring of 1923, while he       1924 to superintendent in        in 1924, he served as             Síothadóir and Síocháin he
     was on traffic duty at the     1953. All his garda service      district officer in Bantry,       kept all the Garda retired
     corner of Washington Street.   was in Dublin Metropolitan       Bandon and Abbeyleix              members well informed.
     That morning when taking-      Division. For a number           before retiring in 1955. A        After his retirement from
     up traffic point duty at       of years he served on the        founder member of GPA, he         the Central Committee in
     10am, he observed a typed      Central Council of the           is credited with compiling        1979, the Dublin South
     poster on a shop building.     Representative Body at           the first memorandum              branch presented O’ Leary
     It was signed by a famous      Garda HQ. At the first           of the association sent to        with a rolled gold mounted
     Republican leader and read:    meeting of the Garda             Government. He was the            umbrella in appreciation of
     “Any member of the Civic       Pensioners’ Association          first to advocate ‘parity’ with   his work. He died on the
     Guards found on traffic        in January 1961, his             serving members.                  December 14th 1981.

10
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

                                                                of the Cork Branch which      4826 and a year later was
                                                                was founded a few months      promoted to sergeant. Cahill
                                                                prior to the national body.   spent most of his service
                                                                With a Cork membership        in the Cavan/Monaghan
                                                                of 127, he was able to        Division and retired in 1952.
                                                                provide great support to      Cahill died in January 1979.
                                                                the founding members
                                                                of the Garda Síochána
                                                                Pensioners Association. At
Eugene Farrelly                                                 the first AGM in Moran’s
A native of Kingscourt, Co.    Robert Wolfe                     Hotel Dublin, McCarthy
Cavan, Eugene Farrelly         Robert Wolfe was member          stated that on September
joined An Garda Síochána       of the old DMP at the time       10th 1960, the babe of
in 1925. He was promoted       of the Anglo Irish Treaty.       the association was born
detective sergeant in 1947     He was promoted sergeant         when 19 true comrades
while attached to Dublin       in 1922 and continued            got together at the Queen’s
Castle. He retired from the    his police service into          Hotel in Cork city. He was
gardaí in 1957 and became      An Garda Síochána. In            co-opted onto the Central
a founding member of the       1930 he was promoted to          Committee in 1961.            Denis Connolly
association in 1961. In 1962   inspector and ten years                                        Denis Connolly was a native
he was elected treasurer and   later superintendent. He         Patrick O’                    of Glengarriff, Co. Cork
held the post for a number     was promoted to chief            Sullivan                      and a founding member of
of years.                      superintendent rank in           Pat O’ Sullivan had served    An Garda Síochána with
                               1942 and was transferred         in Pearse Street as an        Reg. No. 854. In 1962
                               to Dublin Castle. Following      inspector. He attended the    he retired at the rank of
                               retirement in 1947, he wrote     first meeting in January      chief superintendent and
                               A Police Guide to the Law        1961 and played an active     joined the Garda Síochána
                               of Evidence which was            part in forming the new       Pensioners’ Association. In
                               widely sought by gardaí and      association. Pat was a        1966 he was elected as one
                               law students. One of the first   member of the Central         of its vice presidents and
                               vice presidents of the Garda     Committee from 1961 until     held the office for over ten
                               Pensioners’ Association,         1974.                         years.
                               Wolfe died in 1965
                                                                                              Frank O’Hehir
Peter Heffernan                                                                               Frank O’Hehir was born
A native of Kilkenny, Peter                                                                   near Ennis, Co. Clare and
Heffernan joined the Dublin                                                                   was a founding member of
Metropolitan Police in 1905.                                                                  An Garda Síochána, holding
He was promoted sergeant                                                                      Reg. No. 96. His brother
in 1922 and three years                                                                       James, who joined the
later his DMP service was                                                                     Force with him on the first
amalgamated into An Garda                                                                     recruitment day, was issued
Síochána. He was promoted                                                                     with Reg. No. 88. Frank
to inspector in 1926 and                                                                      gave all his garda service in
to superintendent in 1940.                                      James Cahill                  Donegal and retired from
He was one of the founding     Denis McCarthy                   James Cahill was on the       Buncrana Station in April,
members of the Association     Denis McCarthy lived at          1961 Central Committee.       1958. Following retirement,
and elected vice-chairman in   Windmill Road in Cork            He joined the Force in June   he moved to live in Marino,
1961.                          and was Hon. Secretary           1923 with the Reg. No.        Dublin with his family.

                                                                                                                              11
Fid el i ty an d Justi ce

     In January 1961, O’Hehir         Ross, Enniscorthy, Dingle                                        is now awarded by the
     created history again when       and Clonakilty. Following       presidents                       Association to members
     he was one of the first          retirement he went to live in                                    of the GSRMA who were
     retired members to join the      Wilton Road, Cork city. He                                       seriously injured in the
     new association. He was          was elected chairman of the                                      discharge of duty.
     elected onto the first Central   Cork branch of the Garda
     Committee where he gave          Pensioners’ Association
     18 years sterling service. He    when it was formed in
     died in February 1983.           late 1960. In 1961 he
                                      was co-opted onto the
     Archie                           Central Committee of the
     McAllister                       Association.
     Archie McAllister was
     born in Cloughmills, Co.
     Antrim. He was one of the
     founding members of An
     Garda Síochána, (Reg. No.                                        First President –
     3114). McAllister served in                                      Seán Liddy                       Seán Hughes
     Donegal, Granard, Redmills                                       Seán was a native of             Seán Hughes was born in
     and retired from Killucan                                        Cooraclare, Co. Clare,           Claremorris, Co. Mayo. He
     in 1954. He was very                                             where he was local TD for        joined An Garda Síochána
     involved with the formation                                      the period 1918/22. He           in April 1922 and in July of
     of the Garda Pensioners’                                         joined An Garda Síochána         that year he was chosen to
     Association and in 1962                                          in 1922 and retired in 1953      take charge of gardaí for the
     was elected to the Central                                       as chief superintendent of       protection of Government
     Committee. His service                                           Sligo/Leitrim Division. After    Buildings. In March 1923 he
     record with the Central                                          retirement he was appointed      was appointed district officer
     Committee lasted until his       John Berry (TC)                 as a member of the Military      for Sligo Garda District.
     death in August, 1978.           John Berry was born in          Service Board. In 1961 he        By 1928, he was district
                                      Clonbrook, Co. Kildare and      was co-opted to the Central      officer in Howth. While
                                      joined An Garda Síochána        Committee and appointed          stationed there he read law
                                      with Reg. No. 1455. He          to the position of president     in the national university
                                      resided at Windsor Road,        of the Garda Síochána            and was called to the Bar
                                      Rathmines, Dublin. He           Pensioners’ Association.         in 1934. He spent ten years
                                      served as a detective           While returning home from        as district officer in Mallow
                                      sergeant in Pearse Street and   the garda pensioners office      before moving to Midleton
                                      Dublin Castle. After retiring   on Monday evening, March         in 1943. He was a Munster
                                      from An Garda Síochána on       29th 1965, President Seán        representative on the Garda
                                      May 25th 1951 he served as      Liddy was involved in a          Representative Body for
                                      an elected representative of    traffic accident in Dublin       many years before retiring
                                      Dublin Town Council from        and died the following           from An Garda Síochána
                                      1966-73. From 1962 he was       morning. He was laid to rest     in July 1957. At the AGM
                                      a prominent member on the       in Kilmacduane Cemetery,         of the Garda Síochána
     Paddy Brogan                     Central Committee of the        Cooraclare, with full military   Pensioners’ Association in
     A native of Dunmore, Co.         Garda Síochána Pensioners’      honours. His wife Nan,           March, 1966, he was elected
     Galway, Brogan retired           Association and was vice        who died on January 8th          the second president of the
     from An Garda Síochána           chairman for some years. He     1984, was also a native of       association and held the
     on March 18th 1960               died in 1981.                   Cooraclare. The Garda            office for six years. He died
     having served in New                                             Veterans ‘Liddy Medal’,          in September, 1978.

12
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

                               the Garda Pensioners’           Paddy Driscoll                  was promoted to sergeant.
                               Association and at their        Paddy Driscoll was a            He retired from the Force
                               1972 AGM was elected            native of Ballycotton,          from Glin, Co. Limerick
                               president. He held the post     Co. Cork, where football        in 1982 and went back
                               for a total of 14 years. He     played a huge part in his       to live in Abbeydorney
                               died on the March 30th          life. Driscoll figured on the   with his wife, Catherine.
                               1997.                           remarkable garda team that      Dillane immediately joined
                                                               won the 1950 Cork County        the Tralee Branch of the
                                                               Football Championship           Garda Síochána Pensioners’
                                                               and for ten years had the       Association and while
                                                               honour of representing          branch secretary helped to
                                                               Cork. He served as a garda      revive the local branch. In
Alfred I. Flood                                                immigration officer in Cork     1984, he was elected to the
Alfred Ignatius Flood was                                      and retired in the 1970s.       Central Committee and
born in Dublin in 1904                                         After retirement from           he held the position for 16
and received his secondary                                     An Garda Síochána, he           years. Between 1992 and
education in Belvedere                                         became actively involved        1995, he was president of
College. He joined An          James Callery                   with the Garda Pensioners’      the Association.
Garda Síochána in 1924         James Callery was a native      Association. In 1979, he
and had Reg. No. 6328.         of Ballyjamesduff, Co.          was elected to the Central
Better known as Alfie to       Cavan and joined An             Committee and for 13
friends, the name ‘A.I.        Garda Síochána in 1925.         years played an active role
Flood’ appeared on many        He served in many stations      in the association. He was
official garda circulars. He   from Mayo, Birr, Drogheda,      president of our Association
was a member of the college    Roscommon and Naas.             for three years – 1989 to
rugby teams which won the      Following his promotion         1991.
Leinster Senior Schools’       to superintendent in 1963
Cup in 1923 and 1924. On       he served in Belmullet and
leaving college he joined An   Carrickmacross before
Garda Síochána and at 19       retiring in 1969. After
years of age was promoted      retiring from the Force, he
sergeant and posted            became an active member in                                      Tom Ryan
to Tipperary Division.         the Drogheda branch of the                                      Tom Ryan joined An Garda
During the 1930s he was        association and was elected                                     Síochána in 1943 and
promoted to inspector          to the Central Committee                                        retired as superintendent in
and superintendent ranks       in 1975. At the ADM in                                          1981. A qualified barrister,
and in September 1965          Dublin in July, 1986, James                                     he was a founder member
was elevated to chief          Callery was elected president                                   of the Garda Social Club,
superintendent. In March       for a three year term.                                          the National Federation
1967, he was promoted                                          Dave Dillane                    Pensioners’ Association and
assistant commissioner and                                     Dave Dillane was born in        the Irish Senior Citizens
in May that year became                                        Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry          Parliament. Ryan was a
deputy garda commissioner.                                     and joined An Garda             member of the Central
He retired from the Force                                      Síochána in 1952. He            Committee of the Garda
on April 9th 1972 after                                        won a County Football           Pensioners’ Association for
completing 47 years and                                        Championship medal              twelve years. He was elected
four months service.                                           with Leighlin Bridge while      chairman between 1990 and
Following retirement                                           stationed in Carlow in          1994 and president of the
he became a member of                                          1957. Two years later he        Association for three years

                                                                                                                              13
Fid eli ty an d Justi ce

     1995 to 1998. Afterwards          PJ Rogan                        in 1954 and was promoted        was elected to the Central
     he served as a trustee and        PJ Rogan, a native of           to sergeant six year later in   Committee in 1999. He held
     member of the Síocháin            Foxford Co. Mayo, joined        Dundalk. After a further        the office of president from
     editorial board.                  An Garda Síochána in 1956,      ten years he was promoted       2006 to 2010.
                                       serving in Fitzgibbon Street,   to inspector and in 1977
                                       Galway, and the Training        he went to Tipperary town
                                       Centre. His 1981 promotion      as a superintendent. Chief
                                       to inspector rank took him      superintendent rank came in
                                       to Garda HQ in Dublin. In       1989 when he took charge
                                       1985 he went to Clonmel         of Westmeath Division.
                                       from where he retired a year    He retired from An Garda
                                       later. Rogan was general        Síochána in 1993 and joined
                                       secretary of the AGSI from      the Athlone Branch giving
                                       1983 to 1984. After retiring    12 years as branch secretary.
                                       from the Force, he helped to    Between 1996 and 2006,
                                       establish a new branch for      he was a member of the
                                       the Garda Síochána Retired      Central Committee and
     Seán Murray                       Members’ Association in         was president of the Garda
     Seán Murray was a native          Templemore. In 1988 he          Síochána Retired Members’
     of Cavan and joined An            was elected to the Central      Association from 2004 to
     Garda Síochána in 1943.           Committee and was               2006.
     His service record spans          chairman of the committee                                       Tony Sourke
     from Donegal, Castlebar,          from 1995 to 1998. He was       Pádraic                         Tony Sourke, a native of the
     Galway, Clonmel and finally       president of the association    Costello                        seaside town of Rush, is the
     retiring as district officer in   from 2001 to 2004. His          Pádraic Costello was a          twelfth person to hold the
     Fermoy in 1984. He was            local branch, that he helped    member of the AGSI              office of president of Garda
     secretary of the local branch     to establish, now has a         National Executive for          Síochána Retired Members’
     of the association and for        membership of 60.               three terms prior to retiring   Association. Retiring as a
     25 years looked after the                                         from An Garda Síochána          detective superintendent in
     welfare of retired gardaí and                                     as a detective inspector in     2003, he became active in
     garda widows in the region.                                       1995. An active member of       the Dublin West Branch of
     In 1989, he was elected to                                        the Dún Laoghaire Branch        the association. He served
     the Central Committee and                                         of Garda Síochána Retired       on Central Committees
     served as president from                                          Members’ Association he         since 2004.
     1998 to 2001.

                                       John Hickey
                                       John Hickey is a native of
                                       Belgooley near Kinsale.
                                       His father Tom was a
                                       founding member of the
                                       Force who served in nearby
                                       Ballyfeard Station. John
                                       joined An Garda Síochána

14
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

Chairpersons
                                Dublin. Promotion to           years on the committee and      for over 20 years on the
                                sergeant came in 1955,         was chairman from 2001          AGSI National Executive.
                                followed by inspector rank     until 2002.                     He was a great ambassador
                                in 1964 and superintendent                                     for the AGSI while holding
                                in 1968. For many years                                        their presidential office for
                                he was secretary of the                                        seven years. After retiring
                                Garda Superintendents’                                         from An Garda Síochána in
Jim Fitzgerald                  Association. He retired                                        1998 he joined the GSRMA
Jim Fitzgerald was a high-      from the Force in 1988                                         and elected to the Central
profile official with the       and joined the Dublin                                          Committee in 2000. He
Garda Representative Body       South branch of the Garda                                      was chairman of Central
until his retirement from the   Síochána Pensioners’                                           Committee from 2004 to
Force in July 1977. Having      Association. One year later,                                   2008.
given 12 years as chairman      he was elected onto the
of the Garda RB his many        Central Committee where
talents were sought by the      he gave 12 years unbroken      Jack Hennessy
Garda Síochána Pensioners’      service to the Association.    Jack Hennessy retired as
Association. In 1979,           He was chairman of the         a detective inspector from
Fitzgerald, a member of the     committee from 1998 to         Garda Technical Bureau in
Naas Branch, was elected        2000.                          1988. Since then he is a very
to the Central Committee.                                      active member of the Naas
Immediately he was elected                                     Branch. In 2000 he was
chairman and from that                                         elected as a Leinster Rep.
position he steered our                                        on the Central Committee
association for 12 years.                                      and served three terms
A dedicated office holder,                                     and served as chairman
he was highly respected by                                     from 2002 to 2004. He
branch members.                                                represented the association     Cahal Murphy
                                                               on St Paul’s Medical Aid        Cahal Murphy retired as a
                                Phil Callinan                  Board during his period on      detective garda from Kevin
                                Phil Callinan, a native of     the Central Committee.          Street in 1991. Since his
                                Tipperary, joined An Garda                                     retirement, he has given
                                Síochána in 1958. While                                        huge energy to the Garda
                                on duty as a sergeant in                                       Síochána Retired Members’
                                Tullow, Co. Carlow, on                                         Association in Dublin
                                January 16th 1978, he was                                      South Branch. In 2006, he
                                shot and seriously injured                                     was elected to the Central
                                during a bank robbery. He                                      Committee for a two year
Dave Devaney                    had a long association with                                    term and held the office of
Dave Devaney, a native of       the AGSI and was their                                         treasurer. On his re-election
Tuam, Co Galway, joined         president for two terms                                        to the committee in 2008,
An Garda Síochána in            from 1978 until 1982. After                                    he was appointed chairman.
1944. His service record        retiring from the Force he                                     During 2008 to 2010, he
is like a geography map of      was elected to the Central     John Durcan                     shared his vast knowledge
Ireland, from Kerry to Cork,    Committee of the Garda         John Durcan represented         on welfare and entitlements
Shannon, Birr, Abbeyleix,       Síochána Retired Members’      the garda sergeants and         with retired colleagues
Newbridge, Gorey and            Association. He gave ten       inspectors from Donegal         countrywide.

                                                                                                                               15
Fid eli ty an d Justi ce

                                    Charlie                         In-Service for Louth/           where he is now branch
                                    McCarron                        Meath in November               secretary. He has served on
                                    A native of the Orchard         2000. Afterwards, he            the Central Committee of
                                    County but now living           became very active with         the association since 2006.
                                    in Co. Louth, Charlie           the Dundalk Branch of the       In 2010, he was appointed
                                    McCarron retired as             Garda Síochána Retired          chairman.
                                    sergeant-in-charge of Garda     Members’ Association

     GENERAL SECRETARIES
                                    of Tralee, was a Weights        with the Garda Síochána         Association. In 1994, Don
                                    and Measures inspector          Pensioners’ Association.        was promoted to the general
                                    at Garda HQ until he            He was employed at head         secretary position and held
                                    retired in 1977. In 1978,       office from 1980 to 2000        the title for nine years.
                                    he was appointed general        serving for a lengthy period
                                    secretary of Garda Síochána     as general secretary and
                                    Pensioners’ Association and     association trustee. Frank
                                    editor of Síocháin. He ran a    White is the oldest surviving
                                    very efficient central office   general secretary.
                                    for the association until he
                                    retired as general secretary
                                    in June, 1989. He continued
     Thomas                         as editor of Síocháin until
     Costello                       his untimely death in
     Tom Costello was a native      December, 1989.
     of Co. Galway. He joined
     the Force in 1922 with
     Reg. No. 2861. He retired
     as a sergeant from Carlow-                                                                     Eddie O’
     Kildare Division in 1963.                                                                      Donovan
     Between 1974 and 1976 he                                                                       Eddie O’ Donovan is a
     was general secretary to the                                                                   native of Tralee where his
     Association.                                                   Don Boyle                       father Dan served as a garda
                                                                    Don Boyle was born in           for many years. His father,
                                                                    Dublin but reared on the        who represented Kerry on
                                                                    Curragh of Kildare where        the Central Committee
                                                                    his dad was an army officer.    from 1979 to 1982 died
                                                                    He joined An Garda              in 2006 at the age of 104
                                    Frank White                     Síochána in 1955 and spent      years. Eddie, retired from
                                    Frank White, a native of        all his service in Detective    the Garda Ministerial
                                    Co. Sligo, played inter-        Branch. While at Dublin         Driving Pool in 1997 and
                                    county football for Sligo       Castle he was promoted          in 2001 was appointed
                                    and Donegal. He had a           detective sergeant in 1965      deputy general secretary of
                                    strong association with         and in 1979 to detective        the Garda Síochána Retired
                                    the Garda Representative        inspector. In 1990, he          Members’ Association.
                                    Association from the days       retired from the force and      During 2002 to 2004 he was
                                    of the Conroy Commission.       appointed assistant general     general secretary and gave a
     Dan Spillane                   He retired from the Force       secretary for the Garda         further four years as editor
     Dan Spillane, a native         in 1978 and became active       Síochána Retired Members’       of Síocháin.

16
F i de l i t y a nd Just i ce

                                Central Committee and
                                branch secretaries. Gerard is
                                                                Administrative Staff
                                now employed part-time as
                                assistant general secretary.

Gerard Lovett
Gerard Lovett, a native
of Ballingeary, Co. Cork,                                       John Duffy
retired in 2004 as a                                            John Duffy retired as an
detective inspector with        John Rafter                     inspector in 2002 after          Geraldine
the Special Detective Unit.     John Rafter is a Dubliner       spending his final eight         Kirwan
He was appointed general        who in December 2010            years as Garda Archivist         Geraldine Kirwan is a native
secretary of the association    retired as a sergeant from      and Curator in the Garda         of Carlow and following
in January 2005 and held        Change Management               Museum. Immediately, he          resignation from An Garda
the position for six years.     Section of Garda HQ. He         took up the role as deputy       Síochána where she served
His thorough understanding      is now general secretary of     general secretary for the        in Garda HQ she joined
of the association and IT       the Garda Síochána Retired      association and gave eight       the association as office
skills were a great asset to    Members’ Association.           years in the position.           administrator in 2004.

our name                                                        and unity. The black motif is a symbolic tribute to our dead
                                                                comrades. The motto is loyalty and justice.
A new name for new generation
In 1988, the Kildare branch submitted a motion for debate                             our chain
at the ADM to change the name to ‘Association of Retired
Gardaí’.                                                                              History of the Chain
                                                                                       Michael Bohan from Drogheda,
It was clear from the debate that the younger members of                               became a member of the Central
the association were not happy with the word ‘pensioners’                              Committee in 1989. Shortly afterwards
as it made them seem prematurely old. However, the ‘Old                                he proposed that the president should
Guard’ of the Garda Síochána Pensioners’ Association had        wear a chain of office while attending official functions.
muscle and the motion was defeated. It was almost a decade      His dream became a reality for the 30th anniversary of the
later that a similar motion appeared on the conference          Association, in 1991. Chairman Tom Ryan had the pleasure
clár for debate. This time many branches were in favour         of presenting the new chain of office to President Paddy
of changing the name but it took a few more years to            Driscoll.
finally agree on a new title. On January 1st 2002, the name
was changed to the Garda Síochána Retired Members’              The chain was designed by Mr Lua Breen, Dunfanaghy,
Association (GSRMA).                                            Co. Donegal. His intention in designing the chain, was
                                                                to project the Association as a modern progressive body,
                     our crest                                  yet mindful of its history. The overall medal shape has
                     The official crest of the association      a symmetry which is reminiscent of John Maxwell’s
                     was designed by Mrs Liddy, daughter-       original garda badge design but with a simpler and more
                     in-law of President Seán Liddy. The        contemporary approach. The overall ‘square circle’ shape
                     central theme is the dove, a symbol of     suggests discipline and restrained power. The incorporated
                     peace. The black belt suggests strength    Dove of Peace is a fitting symbol and the blue enamel

                                                                                                                                17
Fid eli ty an d Justi ce

     depicts the uniform colour. The black enamel is a reminder       Maureen Browne, writing in The Irish Press on Saturday,
     of deceased members. The whole chain of office, with 30          November 23rd 1968, reminds us of how the first
     plates, is fabricated in gold-plated sterling silver with an     generation of retired gardaí were easily recognised “by their
     enamelled crest. The association crest and motto are             upright posture, a familiar blue shirt and a way of looking
     hand engraved.                                                   you straight in the eye. We know them and meet them every
                                                                      day strolling through our city streets, tending their gardens
     our website                                                      or working in some part-time jobs”.
     As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the Garda
     Síochána Retired Members’ Association launched the               Some of us, in the Garda Síochána Retired Members
     www.gardaretired.com website to improve our service. The         Association, may remember the harsh conditions the first
     site was designed by James O’ Sullivan and Jamjodesign at        generation of gardaí had to contend with. The ‘Barrack
     Inniscarra Co. Cork.                                             Regulations’ which hung in every station, were invoked
                                                                      to keep the member in his place, governing not only his
     1922 Commemorative                                               working hours but his domestic and social life. Roll call

     Medals                                                           at 11pm; 24-hours leave per month; permission to wear
                                                                      civvies; permission to marry; divine service parades;
     While An Garda Síochána was celebrating its 70th                 unlimited working hours; transfer without explanation – all
     anniversary in 1992, Commissioner Patrick Culligan               for £3 to £4.50 per week.
     honoured 29 surviving members of An Garda Síochána who
     were founding members of the Force. The garda veterans           Central Committee 2010-2012
     were invited to a special function at the Garda College and
     each was presented with 1922 commemorative medals.
     Later that year, Her Excellency, President Mary Robinson,
     invited these garda veterans to Áras an Uachtaráin to
                              officially thank them for their garda
                              service. James Phelan, (Reg. No.
                              363) the senior man present made a
                              presentation to President Robinson.

                             Founding Members were easily
                             recognised. Both spent many years
                             building up the Association in
                             Thurles and mid Tipperary.
                                                                      Front row (L-R): John Rafter (Gen. Sec.), Gerard Blake
                                                                      (Treasurer), Charlie McCarron (Chairman), Tony Sourke
                                                                      (President), Grace Lyden (Vice-President), Pádraic Costello,
                                                                      John Durcan.
                                                                      Back row (L-R): Tim Bowe, Tom Griffin, Christy Lonergan,
                                                                      Noel McCarthy, Paschal Feeney, Noel Campbell, John
                                                                      Hartigan, Pat Lehane, Fintan Dunne (insertion).

                                                                      Editorial Comment
                                                                      This history was researched by Tim Bowe, Cork City Branch
                                                                      Secretary GSRMA, and a member of the Central Committee
                                                                      since 2010. He wishes to acknowledge the cooperation given
                                                                      by Sergeant Paul Maher, Curator of Garda Museum Dublin
                                                                      Castle, the Central Committee and Head Office Staff GSRMA.
     Above: Founding members Patrick Wall, Reg. No. 3924 (on          The research is ongoing and updates may appear on our new
     left) and Michael J. Reidy, Reg. No. 6293.                       website www.gardaretired.com

18
You can also read