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| File Reference |
MSP34REF10987
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| Name |
John J. Leonard |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Bofeenaun, Ballina
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| County |
Mayo
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1882
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| Notes |
Exact date of birth not recorded on file
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| Date of death |
1960-02-27
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| Place |
Bofeenaun, Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34D549; DP5385; 1RB1590; X144;
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| Civilian occupation |
Farmer;
Photographer;
Agent, Singer Sewing Machine Company;
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
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| Unit |
4 Battalion
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| Company |
Lahardane Company
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Kilroy
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Divisional Director of Intelligence
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| Division |
4 Western Division
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Kilroy
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| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
YesYes |
| Type of Award |
DPMRDisability pension, medical reasons
OTHOther
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| Notes |
John J. Leonard received a disability pension of £30 (thirty pounds sterling) a year and a married pension of £0. 2. 3 (two shillings and three pence sterling) per week payable from 1 April 1932 to 29 February 1936.
John J. Leonard received a final disability gratuity of £55 (fifty five pounds sterling) in [August] 1936.
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
D |
| Notes |
Awarded 4 and 2/3 years service for pension purposes in 1936
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyX144 John J Leonard.pdf
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF10987 John J Leonard.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP5385 John J Leonard.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34D549 John J Leonard.pdf
Scanned/digital copy1RB1590 John J Leonard.pdf |
| File dates |
26 February 1927 - 5 March 1981
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| Subject Information |
File relates to John J. Leonard's receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 1 April 1916 and 31 March 1921.
File also relates to John J. Leonard's receipt of awards under the Army Pensions Acts between 1934 (backdated from 1 April 1932) and 1936 in respect of disability arising from a severe beating received by him while in National Army custody in March 1923 during the Civil War.
During the War of Independence John J. Leonard claims that he was primarily involved in intelligence work. He claims that he used his profession as a photographer to gain access to British military and police installations and take photos of members and installations. He also claims that he gave instructions in fire arms to IRA officers and was heavily involved in dispatch carrying. He further states that when the IRA Active Service Unit under Michael Kilroy, with whom he claims to have been in constant contact, was in danger of encirclement and capture following the Skirdagh ambush, he brought word to IRA units in North Mayo which took action to prevent British reinforcements arriving from Sligo by blocking roards and attacking Foxford RIC Barracks. Michael Kilroy states that he refused Leonard's request to join [Kilroy's] Active Service Unit during the War of Independence as Kilroy prefered to use Leonard as a contact between IRA units in north and south Mayo.
Leonard also claims that his first wife's death was due to ill-health arising from raids on his home carried out by British forces.
During the Truce period, Leonard states that he took part in IRA training camps. He was then appointed Divisional Director of Intelligence for 4 Western Division IRA, oversaw the IRA's intelligence system there and was based in the IRA barracks in Castlebar, County Mayo. It is also stated that he carried out intelligence work for IRA General Headquarters in Dublin and, was able to procure a large quantity of arms from [British forces] - exact details regarding this unclear from material on file. Leonard also states that during the War of Independence he acted as a District Justice in the Dáil Courts and during the Truce period he was involved in further work with the Republican Courts and Sinn Féin.
Following the outbreak of the Civil War, John J. Leonard states that he took part in fighting in 1922 and 1923 against National Army forces in counties Mayo and Galway at Ballina, Glenamoy, Glenlossera, Newport and Clifden. He was captued in late March 1923. Subject and references, including a former National Army Sergeant, state that after his capture John J. Leonard was severely beaten by a number of National Army soldiers at Claremorris Workhouse. He states that he was interned until May 1924 and was held at Ballina, Castlebar and Hare Park as well as Claremorris.
Material relating to subject's military service pension application includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by John J. Leonard in support of his application; signed typed statement regarding subject's service from Michael Kilroy TD; typed transcript (4 pages) of sworn statement made by John J. Leonard before the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 on 8 May 1936; typed transcript (1 page) of sworn statement made by Edward Moane TD on 19 May 1936 before the Advisory Committee regarding the applications of [] Kilcoyne and "Jack Leonard"; typed transcripts of eveidence given by Michael Kilroy on 10 June 1936 before the Advisory Committee regarding John J. Leonard; material referring to subject's employment as a Cattle Inspector with the Mayo Committee of Agriculture in the 1930s; material relating to the settlement and closure of John J. Leonard's service pendsion following his death on 27 February 1960 - partly closed for reasons of data protection; and reference to subject's second wife.
Material relating to subject's applications under the Army Pensions Acts includes: original signed handwritten and typed material submitted by John J. Leonard in support of his applications; newspaper cutting from the "Mayo News" of 26 February 1927 reporting the arrest, questioning, treatment while under arrest, and ultimate release of Jack Leonard and W. J. Rowland in Castlebar, County Mayo some days previously; medical certificates reports and examinations in respect of John J. Leonard; signed handwritten statements regarding subject's mistreatment in National Army custody in March 1923 from Owen Brogan, Michael Kilroy TD, James McAndrew, [former] National Army Sergeant J. Burke, P. J. McDonnell and Martin Gibbons; representations on claimant's behalf from Patrick J. Ruttledge TD, Minister for Justice; material referring to subject's first and second wives and children; and material relating to reimbursement to John J. Leonard of travel costs between Bofeenaun and Ballina incurred while travelling for medical examinations in respect of his claim under the Army Pensions Acts.
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