A Short Chronicle of Policing in Ireland
Tuarisc Ghairid ar Chóras na bPéas in Éirinn
- In the 1750s some parishes and urban areas appointed “Night Watchmen” to maintain law and order. They were ineffective as custodians of public order and they were replaced in 1773 by the county police. Their policing was equally as ineffective and insufficient.
- The capital saw the formation of its own police force, the Dublin Police in 1786. They are considered to be the first modern and professional police force in Ireland and England.
- The policing system was consolidated in Ireland with the appointment of Robert Peel as Irish Chief Secretary in 1812. In 1814, he established the Peace Preservation Force, more commonly known as the Peelers. This was a paramilitary force which travelled to restore tranquillity and order. Once that had been achieved, the force was transferred to another troubled spot or disbanded.
- Since there was no permanently located police force in Ireland, the County Constabulary was formed in 1832. By 1856, the force numbered ten thousand: all uniformed and armed.
- In 1832, the Revenue Police were formed to combat the illegal distilled poitín.
- In 1836, the County Constabulary and Peace Preservation Force amalgamated into the Irish Constabulary. By 1861 there were 1,400 barracks located throughout the country.
- The Revenue Police were successful in reducing illicit distillation to the point where they were no longer required as a separate force. Following an 1854 Commission of Inquiry the decision to amalgamate with the Irish Constabulary was taken. The amalgamation occurred on the first of October 1857.
- In 1867 Queen Victoria attached the prefix ‘Royal’ to the Irish Constabulary in recognition of its service in the suppression of the Fenian Rising.
- The Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) was disbanded on the 22nd of February 1922 and replaced by the Civic Guard, the new police force of the Irish Republic. Later, on the 8th of August 1923, it was renamed the Garda Síochána.
- Sna 1750idí, bhí “Faireoirí Oíche”, ainmnithe i bparóistí éagsúla agus i gceantracha áirithe sna bailte móra ar mhaithe le déanamh cinnte nach mbrisfí an dlí . Ba bheag éifeacht a bhi iontu agus dá thairbhe sin cruthaíodh na gardaí contae sa bhliain 1773. Ní raibh siadsan mórán níos fearr .
- Cuireadh fórsa cosanta dá cuid féin, Gardaí Bhaile Átha Cliath ar bun don príomhchathair sa bhliain 1786. Deirtear gurb é seo an chéad fhórsa proifisiúnta gardaíochta a bhí in Éirinn nó i Sasana.
- Rinneadh an córas gardaíochta a dhaingniú in Éirinn nuair a ceapadh Robert Peel mar Phríomh-Rúnaí na hÉireann sa bhliain 1812. Sa bhliain 1814 bhunaigh an Peace Preservation Force, nó na Peelers mar a thugtaí orthu - bunrán de phéas a rachadh go dtí ait ar bith ina raibh trioblóid agus a dheanamh síocháin. Nuair amháin a bhíodh sin déanta, chúinsí go dtí ait éigin eile iad ina raibh trioblóid nó scaoilfí saor iad.
- Ó tharla nach raibh peas ar bith lonnaithe go buan in Éirinn cuireadh Constáblacht na Contae ar bun sa bhliain 1822. I dtrátha na bliana 1836, bhí 10,000 fear liostáilte - iad uilig faoi arm agus éide.
- Sa bhliain 1832 cuireadh na Ribínigh ar bun le stop a chur le deanamh poitín.
- Sa bhliain 1836 rinneadh cónascadh ar Chonstáblacht na Contae agus an Peace Preservation Force agus tugadh Constáblacht na hÉireann orthu.
- Maidir le laghdú a dhéanaimh ar dheanamh poitín, d’eirigh chomh maith sin leis na Ribínigh nach raibh gá níos mo le hiad a bheith ina bhforsa ar leith agus i ndiaidh cruinniú an Choimisiún Fiosrúcháin sa bhliain 1854, glacadh leis an chinneadh go ndeánfadh siad cónasc le Constáblacht na hÉireann. Tharla sé seo chead lá de Dheireadh Fómhair 1857.
- Sa bhliain 1867 thug an Bhanríon Victoria cead do Chonstáblacht na hÉireann an focal “Ríoga” a chur lena n-ainm mar aitheantas ar a gcuidiú i gcur faoi chois Éirí Amach na bhFíníní.
- Rinneadh Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann, nó an R.I.C., a scoir ar an 22ra lá de mhí na ar an 22ra lá de mhí na bhFaoilleach, 1922 agus cuireadh an Garda Cathartha ina n-áit, fórsa úr do Phoblacht na hÉireann. Athraíodh an t-ainm seo níos moille, as an 8ú Lúnasa 1923 go dtí An Garda Síochána.
Location
An tSean Bheairic
An tSráid Mhór
An Fál Carrach
Co. Dhún na nGall
F92 YE2C
