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| File Reference |
MSP34REF10807
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| Name |
Thomas Coen |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Arran Street, Ballina
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
Lower Hill Street, Ballina
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1890
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| Date of death |
1964-02-16
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34C203; DP3734
|
| Civilian occupation |
Draper's assistant;
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Ballina Company
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Adjutant
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane; E. Gannon; T. Loftus;
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Staff Officer
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
J. A. Madden;
|
| 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 |
C |
| Notes |
Awarded 5 and 2/3 years service for pension purposes in 1937
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF10807 Thomas Coen.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34C203 Thomas Coen.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP3734 Thomas Coen.pdf |
| File dates |
4 October 1934 - 7 September 2000
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Thomas Coen'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 1917 and 31 March 1920.
During the War of Independence Thomas Coen states that he took part in an IRA attack on an RIC patrol in Knox Street, Ballina in [July] 1920 which led to the death of an RIC Sergeant Armstrong, and the capture of Enniscrone Coastguard Station in August the same year. He also states that he had taken part in the burning of RIC barracks at Cloghans and Ballymohenry. In late 1920 Thomas Coen was appointed Brigade Adjutant and spent the remainder of the War of Independence involved in carrying out the work of that office and did not take part in any further IRA attacks during that conflict. During the Truce period Coen was involved in organising and taking part in IRA training camps. He also served as a member of the Brigade staff garrisoned in Ballina. He states that just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War in late June 1922 he was demoted to Assistant Brigade Adjutant as part of a reorganisation of the North Mayo IRA undertaken at that time. Thomas Coen continued to serve with the anti-Treaty IRA following the out break of the Civil War and was captured by National Army forces on [28 July] 1922 in Ballina when the latter force took over that town. Coen states that he was subsequently interned in Ballina, Athlone, Mountjoy and Tintown No. 1 Internment Camp until his release in December 1923. He also states that he took part in a hunger strike for 12 days during his internment.
File includes: original signed handwritten and typed material submitted by Thomas Coen in support of his service pension application; typed transcript (8 pages) of sworn statement made by Thomas Coen on 6 January 1937 before the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934; handwritten standard form Referee R.15 showing details of claimant's rank and unit strength as of 11 July 1921 and 1 July 1922 from records supplied by the relevant IRA brigade committee and T. Ruane; handwritten statement of verification regarding subject's IRA rank and duties as of 1 July 1922 signed by M. Kilcawley, Tomas Ó Ruadhain, P. A. Calleary and Denis Sheerin; handwritten notes relating to discussion held regarding claimant's service/activities with Messrs Ruane and Kilcawley; material relating to the settlement and closure of Thomas Coen's service pension account following his death on 16 February 1964; and material relating to enquiry to Pensions Administration Section, Department of Defence regarding information contained on the file - closed.
File (DP3734) includes claimant's unsuccessful application under the 1932 Army Pensions Act. Applicant claimed that he gave up whole time employment owing to his IRA activities. Coen stated that he lost some £150 as a result.
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