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Patrick John Kelly (c. 1828 – 28 April 1905) was a Sergeant who served in the Royal Irish Constabulary for a total of thirty years and ten months. During his career he was stationed in County Galway, County Derry, and County Down. When he was stationed at Newtownards Barracks in County Down, he was swindled £200 by his officer, whom of which was the infamous Thomas Hartley Montgomery.

Birth
Patrick John Kelly was born circa 1828 in Inishowen, which is a peninsula located in the north of County Donegal, Ireland. He had a brother, and they were born to John Kelly. He was raised in a Roman Catholic family who predominately spoke Irish as well as English. This immediately immersed him into the Roman Catholic faith and enabled him to become fluent in both the Irish and English language. During his youth he also learned how to read and write.

Enlistment


During the Great Hunger, Patrick enlisted in the Irish Constabulary on the 2nd of February 1848 when he was 19 years old, as a means of survival. His service number was 10/964 and at the time of joining he measured at 5-foot 7½ inches tall. Prior to joining he was a labourer; he was recommended by Head Constable Elliott, which was usually a person known to the candidate’s father. He sat an exam which tested his proficiency to read and write. He was deemed successful and upon completion he was sent to the Irish Constabulary Depot, which is located in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland. It was here that he spent four months training to be a constable.

In June 1848 he finished his training and was first promoted to 2nd class Sub-Constable. He was ready to start his duty as a constable and therefore he was first stationed in the East Riding of County Galway, Ireland. During his service here, he was promoted to 1st class Sub-Constable.

Marriage
On the 1st of May 1857, he was stationed in County Derry, Northern Ireland. During his service here, he was promoted twice, from 1st class Sub-Constable to Acting Constable on the 1st of April 1861, and from Acting Constable to Constable on the 1st of June 1866. He also met his soon to be wife Mary Quigley, who lived in Labby, Draperstown. She was the daughter of Patrick Quigley and Mary Quigley née Brown. She had two siblings, an older brother named Patrick Quigley and a younger sister named Susan Quigley. They got married on the 3rd of February 1867 in St. Columba’s Roman Catholic Church, Straw. The witnesses were James McCaffery and Ann Conway. At the time of the marriage, he was stationed at Garvagh Barracks and a few days later, Patrick was demoted from Constable to Acting Constable on the 5th of February 1867.

Swindled by Thomas Hartley Montgomery


A few months after Patrick's marriage, he was stationed in County Down, Northern Ireland, on the 16th of April 1867. In the month of February, 1870, Patrick was stationed in Newtownards. Senior official Thomas Hartley Montgomery became Patrick’s officer. One day Patrick was in Mr. Montgomery’s office. Mr. Montgomery said he was sending interest on £50 to Constable Knott, that he was getting good interest, 4 per cent. Patrick said he wished he would do something for him, as he had some money. Mr. Montgomery told him to make up his mind, and if he liked he would invest it for him. Patrick then withdrew £198 from the bank, and gave it to Mr. Montgomery, who said he would add £2 to make it £200. He afterwards said he had invested it in debenture stock, and then paid him interest at the rate of 4 per cent, commencing with June 1870. Patrick was promoted from Acting Constable to Constable/Sergeant on the 1st of July 1870. In January 1871, Patrick received another sum of £4 from Mr. Montgomery, purporting to be the half-year’s interest of the amount. On the 29th of June 1871, Mr. Montgomery robbed the Northern Banking Company in Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and murdered cashier William Glass. In August 1871, Patrick wrote a letter to Mr. Montgomery stating that he wanted £10, as his wife was unwell, and referred to the interest on the money being due then. The following letter is what Patrick received in reply to that:

"I wish you would call with my solicitor, Mr. Rea, at 80, Donegall-street, Belfast, on Wednesday. I hope your wife will soon recover her health."

- T. H. MONTGOMERY, 28th of August 1871, Omagh

Aftermath


William Davidson, the respected Coroner for County Down, wrote a letter to numerous newspapers in August 1873, suggesting to the public the benevolent idea of recouping Patrick and Robert for the sums that they had lost to their superior officer Thomas Hartley Montgomery. Mr. Davidson offered to act as treasurer of a fund to be got up to reimburse them for the loss of their hard-earned savings. A few subscriptions were received however in late September an erroneous impression got abroad that they had already been paid, and that further contributions were not required for the purpose. A few people had written letters to the newspaper editors to address the rumour and state that it was in fact false. They had republished these letters throughout September and October. Whether or not Patrick and Kenny got their money back is unknown.

"SIR, – Some time ago a letter appeared from the respected Coroner for the County of Down. In that letter the writer drew the attention of the public to the losses sustained by Constables Kelly and Kenny, of the Royal Irish Constabulary. It will, no doubt, be fresh in the recollections of your readers that those two constables, who are admitted to be respectable, intelligent, and most efficient members of the force, have lost large sums of money through the duplicity of their superior officer. I have no intention of uttering one single harsh word upon the memory of the late Sub-Inspector Montgomery. By his tragical death he has paid the penalty due to his crime, and has thereby repaired as far as possible the moral injury done to society.

But, sir, whilst public justice is satisfied with the punishment of those who transgress its laws, there is no compensation provided for those in whose regard justice has been violated. I hold that the law should not only punish the culprit, but compensate the injured individual.

Public sympathy has often supplied the place of such a law, and I have known no case for a long time so deserving of that generous sympathy as the case of those two constables and their families. From time to time valuable testimonials have been presented to members of the constabulary force for simply discharging their duty. Without approving or disapproving of the wisdom of such proceedings, I have no hesitation in saying that the claims of those two constables upon public sympathy are infinitely superior to most of those who have received testimonials, and whose only claims upon the public – with a few exceptions – were their own promotion or removal from one station to another. One of those men has lost £200, and the other £30, and form the small salary that the members of the force receive for their services to the public, we can easily imagine the length of time, the care, and economy required to accumulate such sums.

A rumour has been circulated to the effect that those men have been repaid their money. I have made particular inquiry upon this point, and I am now in a position to give it a most unqualified contradiction. Not a single farthing has ever been received by either of the constables.

I hope that the appeal of the worthy coroner, whom I think deserving of all praise in bringing the matter before the public, may not be in vain, and that his subscription list may soon represent a substantial amount of sympathy. I think that the magistrates, who understand so well the important services rendered to society generally by those men, and to themselves particularly, should lead the way.

Hoping, Mr. Editor, that, in justice to those men who have been wrongfully accused of receiving back their money, you will give insertion to this letter, I remain yours respectfully,

O’Dowda. Belfast, Oct. 24, 1873."

- Ulster Examiner and Northern Star, 27 October 1873

Retirement


Patrick was stationed in the Carryduff Barracks in 1873. The Carryduff barracks shut down three years later and on the 15th of June 1876, Patrick arrived in the newly built Newtownards Barracks. This is where he spent his final years as a constable. Patrick was permitted by the authorities to retire on a pension of £71 on the 11th of December 1878. He retired from the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Constable on the 16th of December 1878, aged 49, and it was reported in the newspaper five days later:

"THE CONSTABULARY. – After a lengthened service of thirty-one years, Constable Patrick Kelly, of Newtownards, has been permitted by the authorities to retire on a pension of £71 per annum. During his service here, extending over a period of several years, Constable Kelly performed his duty in a manner highly satisfactory to his superiors as well as to the general public, by whom he was much respected."

- Newtownards Chronicle & Co. Down Observer, 21 December 1878

His total service at the time of his discharge was 30 years and 10 months. On the 16 December 1878, his pension commenced.

Unofficially separated from wife
He travelled from County Down to County Derry/Londonderry to live with his wife Mary however it was short-lived. Patrick went back home to County Donegal, Ireland.

Death


Patrick died from debility on 28 April 1905, in Lenan, Clonmany, County Donegal, Ireland. His nephew Patrick Kelly was present at the time of his death. His last pension payment of £5 9s. 3d. was granted to his son Joseph Kelly. His will was also granted to his son Joseph Kelly of Derry on the 4th of September 1905, who at the time was a marine fireman. The effects were £360 3s. He is buried at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church which was built in 1888. It is located in Urris, Clonmany, County Donegal, Ireland.