Historian trying to trace relatives of Westmeath guard who died in 1929

One of Ireland's leading police historians is trying to trace the next of kin of a garda from Westmeath who died while on duty in Dublin on Christmas morning ninety four years ago.

James Doyle, a naive of Ballyhealy, Delvin, died from injuries sustained when he was involved in accident while on duty near Harold's Cross Bridge in Dublin in the early hours of December 25 1929.

The person looking for his relatives is retired garda, genealogist and Irish police historian Jim Herlihy.

A co-founder of the Garda Historical Society, Mr Herlihy contacted the Westmeath Examiner and explained why he wants to get in touch with Doyle's next of kin.

“I am trying to trace the relatives of Garda James Doyle in an effort to have him included on the official Garda Siochana Roll of Honour. In 1929 when he was killed he wouldn't have been eligible to be added to the Garda Roll of Honour as it only applied to gardai who were killed as direct result of political violence. However, the criteria has changed in recent years to have all members of An Garda Siochana who died accidentally on duty to be included and Garda James Doyle now meets this criteria.

“I am interested to find if there is anything known about him in his native place of Ballyhealy, Delvin, Co. Westmeath and / or are there any relatives living in the area and if a photograph exists of him to have him remembered annually on Garda Memorial Day, which takes place on Saturday May 18.”

Read historian Jim Herlihy's account of the life and death of Garda James Doyle.

James Doyle was born on 19 April 1898 in Ballyhealy, Delvin, Co Westmeath, the second son of and third child John Doyle (1862-1936) and Margaret Doyle (1864-1933 (nee Lynagh), who were married on 1 February 1891 in Delvin.

His three siblings were Mary Doyle (1894-1963) who married William Allen (1872-1920) from Belrath, Delvin, Westmeath on 29 October 1913; John Doyle (1896-1963), who married Kathleen Deethe, from Ballyhealy, Delvin on 31 October 1934; and Michael Doyle (1899-1950), who married Rose Darby (1899-1968), from Mulroe, Delvin, on 20 February 1934.

James Doyle is described as being 5’9½”, aged 26 years with previous service in the National Army when he enlisted in the Dublin Metropolitan Police, recommended by Longford / Westmeath Independent Labour TD John (Sean) Lyons, Westmeath on 30 April 1924.

He was allocated a DMP registered number (12269) and underwent his recruit training at the DMP Kevin Street Depot. On 20 June 1924 he was allocated to Terenure DMP Station, which was in Rathmines DMP District in the ‘E’ DMP Division.

On 5 April 1925, the Dublin Metropolitan Police was amalgamated with the Garda Siochana and henceforth the DMP became the Dublin Metropolitan Division (DMD) of the Garda Siochana, collectively known as the Dublin Metropolitan Guards (DMG), patrolling the Dublin Metropolitan Area (DMA).

Then serving members of the DMP could retain their DMP warrant number or be allocated a Garda registered number. James Doyle retained his DMP warrant number.

Shortly after midnight on Christmas morning 1929 Garda James Doyle left Terenure Garda Station on cycle patrol duty in plain clothes. He was seen leaving the station by Sergeant Leonard C. Murtagh (1893-1961), DMP 11751 (16E), of Terenure Station who walked with him as he wheeled his bicycle as far as Brighton Square.

Garda Doyle was seen shortly afterwards cycling along Harolds Cross Road, near Park House in the direction of Harold's Cross Bridge at 12.30am. A Joseph O’Connor and a Michael Walshe, both from Harold's Cross Cottages were near Smiths Lane when they saw two cars travelling at a moderate speed from the direction of the city on their correct side of the road. The second car pulled out to the right to overtake the first car. Garda Doyle, was seen cycling close to the kerb and just as he had passed the motor cars, he was seen swerving to the left in an effort to get even closer to the kerb when the front wheel of the bicycle struck the kerb and he fell forward on to the footway.

Both men went to Garda Doyle’s assistance and lifted him up. He was then unconscious and bleeding from a cut over his left eye. The Rathmines ambulance was called and Garda Doyle was conveyed to the Meath Hospital, Dublin accompanied by one of the witnesses.

The motor cars did not stop and neither witness took their registration numbers and the only description they were able to give of the cars is that they were four-seaters. The drivers of the cars also could not have seen the accident occur, as both had passed before Garda Doyle fell.

Both witnesses stated that the drivers of the cars were not to blame for the accident. There was no light on the bicycle and there was a street lamp working where the accident occurred. The house surgeon at the Meath Hospital, Dr Anna McCabe stated that Garda Doyle was unconscious with severe head injuries when he was admitted to the institution at 1.15 am on Christmas morning and died an hour later.

At an inquest held by the Dublin City Coroner, Dr Louis O’Byrne on Friday 27 December 1929, the identification of Garda Doyle was given by his brother John Doyle, who stated he was unmarried. The verdict was that Garda James Doyle, of Terenure Garda Station died due to shock and haemorrhage, following injuries caused on duty by accidentally falling from his bicycle and coming in contact with the kerb.

The remains of Garda James Doyle were removed from the Catholic Church at Delvin on Saturday 28 December 1929 to the family burial ground at Delvin.

A guard of honour under Superintendent Patrick Doyle, of Castlepollard, accompanied the remains to the cemetery. A large contingent of guards from Dublin marched four-deep after the remains to the graveside.

The chief mourners were the deceased’s parents, John and Margaret Doyle, his brothers, John and Michael and his sister, Mrs Mary Allen. Superintendent Nicholas Walsh, Rathmines and a number of the deceased’s comrades from ‘E’ District, DMG also attended.

Among the wreaths were one from the officers and men of the ‘E’ District, Garda Siochana, and one from his comrades in Terenure Station, with whom he was very popular.