Report of 24 August 1915

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/69)

The report of 24 August 1915 records visits to the shop of Thomas J Clarke, 75 Parnell Street, by Con Colbert, followed at various stages by Thomas Byrne, Charles J Kickham, Seán T Ó Ceallaigh and William O’Leary Curtis.

TJ Sheehan is observed in the shop of James Whelan, 17 Ormond Quay Upper, while Michael J O’Rahilly, Henry Dixon and Thomas J Clarke are observed in Dublin City centre. JJ Walsh remained in his shop at 26 Blessington Street.

The impending departure to America of Robert Monteith is reported. Intelligence suggests the journey is being undertaken with the intention of forming an ‘Irish Brigade to fight on the side of Germany in the present War’. Although permission has been received from the military authorities for his passage, no corroborating information can as yet be obtained to determine the ‘object of his mission’.

An annotation on the report provides some background to Monteith and states ‘It is hard to say where a man of his sort does most harm In Ireland or in America. Probably the latter’.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 23 August 1915.