John Roche (detective)

John Roche
John Roche
Born	11 June 1905; Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland
Died	4 January 1940 (aged 34); Cork, Ireland
Occupation	Garda Detective
Known for	Assassination by Tomás Óg Mac Curtain; First Garda casualty of the Emergency Period

John Roche (11 June 1905 – 4 January 1940) was a Garda Síochána Detective who was assassinated on the 3 January 1940, becoming the first Garda casualty of the Emergency Period.[1]

Early life

John Roche was born on 11 June 1905 in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.[2] His mother, Mary Anne Woulfe (12 July 1872 – 16 October 1944) came from a landed Catholic family, the daughter of merchant John Richard Woulfe.[3] His father, Edmond J. Roche (15 November 1873 – 31 December 1945), was a peace commissioner.

Assassination

On 3 January 1940, Roche was shot fatally by Tomás Óg Mac Curtain, an IRA commandant and the son of Lord Mayor Tomás Mac Curtain.[4] Roche and two colleges had attempted to question Mac Curtain about criminal activities when he produced a revolver. Roche was taken to the North Infirmary Hospital and died from his wounds the following day.[5]

His death inspired greater IRA opposition amongst Irish Catholics, though Mac Curtain's death sentence was later reprieved.[6]

References

Colm, Wallace (8 May 2017). "Garda assassinations and IRA executions during the Emergency". The Irish Times. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
"Roche, John". An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022. Ballybehy South, Abbeyfeale
"Mary Anne Woulfe". FamilySearch. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022. Mary Anne Woulfe
"Tomás Mac Curtain, Lord Mayor of Cork". The Irish War. The Irish War. 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2022. Mac Curtain's son
Poland, Pat (22 February 2022). "Six Cork gardaí who died in line of duty". EchoLive.ie. Cork, Ireland. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
Colm, Wallace (8 May 2017). "Garda assassinations and IRA executions during the Emergency Period". The Irish Times. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

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[1] Colm, Wallace (8 May 2017). "Garda assassinations and IRA executions during the Emergency". The Irish Times. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 1 July 2022.

[2] "Roche, John". An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022. Ballybehy South, Abbeyfeale

[3] "Mary Anne Woulfe". FamilySearch. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022. Mary Anne Woulfe

[4] "Tomás Mac Curtain, Lord Mayor of Cork". The Irish War. The Irish War. 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2022. Mac Curtain's son

[5] Poland, Pat (22 February 2022). "Six Cork gardaí who died in line of duty". EchoLive.ie. Cork, Ireland. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

[6] Colm, Wallace (8 May 2017). "Garda assassinations and IRA executions during the Emergency Period". The Irish Times. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 2 July 2022.