Military Service Pensions Collection

 

 

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File Reference MSP34REF18581
Name Thomas Donnelly
Gender male
Address detail
Street Cadamstown, Birr
County Offaly
Country Ireland
Address detail
Street Curragh, Cadamstown
County Offaly
Country Ireland
Date of birth 1900
Date of death 1980-05-30
Associated files in MSPA 34E10477; DP21578
Related files 1P359 Michael Heaney
Easter rising service No
Organisation Irish Republican Army
Rank Private
Unit 3 Battalion
Division 3 Southern Division
Company C Company (Kinnitty)
Brigade 2 Offaly Brigade
Commanding Officer(s) Laurence Langton; Joseph Connolly; James Coughlan
Pension Claim Yes
Award Pension Yes
Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 No
Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 No
Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 Yes
Grade E
Notes Awarded 2 and 11/12 years service for pension purposes in 1956.
Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 No
Digital file Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF18581 Thomas Donnelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E10477 Thomas Donnelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP21578 Thomas Donnelly.pdf
File dates 27 June 1935 - 10 November 1980
Subject Information File relates to Thomas Donnelly's receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA for part of the periods between 1 April 1920 and 31 March 1923. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for other periods. Claims that he joined the Irish Volunteers in 1918 and took part in routine activities. During the War of Independence applicant claims that he was involved in: armed escort of the Active Service Unit (Flying Column); took part in the eviction of Constable Wynn's family and the subsequent burning of their furniture; transfer of munitions; filling cartridges for the Flying Column; assisted in the destruction of Kinnitty Barracks and courthouse by being on armed guard. Noted that Donnelly was among those detailed to keep under observation the Pearson family and that "he had to use a revolver on more than one occasion to keep them from spying on the movements of the IRA". He states that while blocking roads the IRA party of which he was an armed member was fired on by civilians led by a member of the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) who was wounded when attempting to disarm the IRA. (NOTE in summary evidence applicant says that the IRA party were happened on by an RIC man who was held up and that 'a hostile crowd led by the Pearsons' came along and opened fire')Donnelly says that one member of the IRA (Michael Heaney (1P359)) was wounded and that he too was slightly wounded. States that later that night he brought the wounded man to a doctor. States that he was arrested on 24 June 1921 and released on 9 December the same year. During the Civil War states that he was involved in: the ejectment of National Army forces from Kinnitty; blocking roads, knocking bridges. Claims that he was arrested on 1 August 1922 and released from Gormanston internment camp in December 1922. Mentions that thereafter he carried dispatches. File DP21578 relates to applicant's unsuccessful claim for a Special Allowance. File contains; four page handwritten statement of activities signed by Laurence Langton, John Dillon, James Delahunty and James Garahy; material concerning appeal; material concerning application for a Service (1917-1921) Medal without Bar; material relating to representatives partly closed.