BY GRAHAM MAJOR
The Newry Port and Harbour Trust was created in 1901 to administer the Newry Canal. In September 1909 it was suggested that an additional Watchman be appointed to deter theft in the harbour. It was noted a local Police Officer sometimes attended the harbour but was not a sufficient deterrent. It was stated the best course of action would be to appoint a Harbour Constable, possibly an ex-Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) man and that the merchants would meet three quarters of the cost. It was reported later that month that two night Watchmen were being paid 15/- per week each, to see over the harbour and if Constables were appointed they could be done away with.
In January of 1912 two users of the harbour contacted the Board to ask what action was being taken to bring on Harbour Constables and that, if two uniformed men were employed for day and night duties, they would be prepared to contribute 10/- per week each towards their cost.
The Port and Harbour Trust appointed it first officers, Patrick Bradley and John Wood, on the 12th April 1912. Both were ex-RIC men and were to be paid a salary of £1 per week. There had been seven applications for the two posts but these two men were the only ones apart from one other with previous police experience. It was reported the following day that the company seal had been applied to the agreement to employ Constables. By May, the Secretary reported they understood their duties and were carrying them out both day and night at the Albert Basin to a satisfactory standard, and that an office/hut for them was nearing completion. He had also been in contact with Londonderry and Sligo Harbour to ascertain what type of uniform and equipment they had issued to their Constables so that a decision could be made by the Committee on what to furnish to their own Constables. It was confirmed that they had adequate powers by virtue of the fact that Section 79 of the Harbours Piers and Causeway Act 1847 had been incorporated into the Newry Ports and Harbour Trust Act.
On the 11th May 1912 Constable Woods charged Thomas McKeown with being drunk and assaulting Terence McGee. The man was fined 1/- and costs for drunkenness and 10/- 6d and costs for assault.
In early June, the Secretary reported the harbour office had been completed and that within a week the uniforms for the Harbour Constables would arrive.
On New Year's Day 1913 Constable Woods arrested a man at the quay for the alleged offence of stealing coal, the property of the Newry and Provisional Coal Co Ltd.
On the 15th September 1915 John Treanor was fined £3 for assaulting Constable Woods whilst the Officer was making enquiries into the theft of coal.
In October 1922 the Newry Port and Harbour Trust advertised for a Harbour Constable, no details of the post were given, but applications were required to be sent to Mr George Lamb, the Harbour Secretary, no later than the 18th of that month.
On the 23rd January 1923 the Belfast Telegraph reported on the death the previous day of Harbour Constable John Curran.
On Monday 13th March 1933 two Harbour Constables reported hearing a splash and seeing a body in the Albert Basin. Despite a life buoy being thrown at the time and a subsequent dragging operation performed no body was found.
The undertaking closed to commercial traffic in 1936, but was not abandoned until 1949. Indeed, in 1940, the Board were giving consideration to issuing caps with the words "Harbour Trust" on the peak to Constables so they could be identified and therefore not be continually stopped by the military.
In April 1946 Constable Henry McLoughlin gave evidence at the inquest of John Jackson who had been found dead aboard the SS Bamboo.
In December 1946 the Board voted 6 to 3 to retain two full time Constables, despite Mr A Shiels submitting a report that to have one full time and one part time Constable would save £110 per annum. It was stated these men had rendered valuable service and to effect savings at their expense was not justified.
Sources
- Newry Reporter, 06 November 1909, 06 January 1912, 13 April 1912, 04 May 1912, 08 June 1912, 25 July 1912, 31 December 1912, 02 January 1913
- Northern Whig, 04 May 1912, 15 March 1933
- Belfast News Letter 17 September 1915
- Belfast Telegraph 06 November 1909, 09 October 1922, 23 January 1923
- Frontier Sentinel, 11 May 1912, 17 August 1940, 13 April 1946, 14 December 1946
- Royal Irish Constabulary 1911 Coronation Medal image courtesy Noonans
