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| File Reference |
MSP34REF22272
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| Name |
Richard Sweetman |
| Gender |
male |
| Maiden/Other names |
Dick Sweetman
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| Address detail |
| Street |
13 Lower Buckingham Street, Dublin
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| County |
Dublin
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1901
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| Notes |
Exact date of birth not recorded on file
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| Date of death |
1980-11-20
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E1916
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Private
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| Unit |
3 Battalion
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| Company |
C Company
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| Brigade |
Dublin Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Simon Donnelly; Patrick Flanagan; Leo Henderson; F Duffy
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| Other Service Numbers |
8248 (Garda Síochána number)
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| 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 5 and 2/3 years for pension purposes at Grade E in 1937 under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF22272 Richard Sweetman.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E1916 Richard Sweetman.pdf |
| File dates |
16 November 1935 - 28 October 1993
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Richard Sweetman’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 01 April 1919 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence. Subject also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 01 April 1917 and 31 March 1919. Richard Sweetman was awarded 5 and 2/3 years for pension purposes at Grade E in 1937 under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
Richard Sweetman (Dick Sweetman) states that he joined C Company, 3 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers in September 1917 under the command of Simon Donnelly (34C7) and Patrick Flanagan (MSP34REF455). Claims that he was involved in training; anti-Conscription work; defence of 6 Harcourt Street (November 1918); transporting munitions from home of Noel Lemass (MD915), Capel Street after raid on 41 York Street and 1918 General Election work.
During the War of Independence (January 1919 - July 1921), the subject states that he took part in a raid for arms in Wilton Place; burning of Income Tax Offices, Nassau Street; manufacture of hand grenades and repair of small arms at a premises in Lombard Street; armed guard duty at battalion headquarters at 144 Pearse Street; planned attack on Lord French at College Green; watching movements of suspected spies in Fitzwilliam Street and Baggot Street area (September 1920) and guard duty at 34 Lower Camden Street. His company officers were Patrick Flanagan, F Duffy and Leo Henderson (MSP34REF60142).
On ‘Bloody Sunday’ (21 November 1920), Richard Sweetman says that he was inside 28 and 29 Pembroke Street with another man and IRA officer Patrick Flanagan who “executed both of the British” agents.
Subject states that he was arrested at home two days later on 23 November 1920 and held in Arbour Hill, Dublin and Ballykinlar Camp [County Down] until December 1921. During the Truce period under the command of F Duffy, Joseph O’Connor (MSP34REF901) and Albert Rutherford (MSP34REF22365), he states that he attended IRA training camp; arms raids; securing arms and ammunition at Stoneybatter; spent some time in IRA outposts in Masonic Hall and Kildare Street Bridge and was part of the IRA garrison in the Ballast Office (May 1922).
Taking the anti Treaty side in the Civil War, Richard Sweetman states that he reported to 41 York Street on 27 June 1922; was sent to Norton’s Malt Stores, Newmarket; joined No. 3 Active Service Unit (ASU) as full-time, paid member on 07 July 1922 under the command of Sean Budds (MSP34REF20468); ambush of National Army car on Clanbrassil Street; was attacked by National Army while doing guard duty at battalion council at Lundy’s Court, Long Lane and had an attack on Kevin Street and Technical School (National Army outpost) (21 July 1922).
Subject captured in 28 July 1922 in Bray, County Wicklow with George White (MSP34REF4155) and Joe Sheppard (MSP34REF21729). He was detained in Maryboro Jail [Portlaoise Prison, County Laois) where he took part in burning of the prison and a hunger strike (no length given). Richard Sweetman was released from No. 2 Tintown Camp [the Curragh, County Kildare] in February 1924.
Applicant joined An Garda Sióchana (Number 8248) on an unknown date and resigned on 12 July 1935. He married Rose Sweetman (née Purcell) on 23 August 1948. Richard Sweetman died on 20 November 1980 and was buried in Westpalstown Cemetery, Ballyboughal, County Dublin. His widow Rose died on 25 November 1992.
File includes references in support of the subject’s claim from John J Budds (Sean Budds) (1935) James Doyle (1937); Joseph Martin (1937); J O’Connor (1937); George White (1937); Seamus Kavanagh (1937); Albert Rutherford (1937); M Connolly (1937); S Donnelly (1937) and George White (1945). File contains a typed transcript of sworn statement made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 15 February 1937 and by 13 June 1945. File further contains material relating to the payment of the balance of the service pension and a funeral grant to the next of kin following the subject's death in 1980 and the closure of the account following his widows death in 1992.
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