Daniel Costigan (1911–1979) was Commissioner of the Garda Síochána from July 1952 until February 1965.[1][2] Costigan was the second, and final, civilian commissioner of the Garda Siochana.
Personal life
editHe and his wife Hilda had three daughters and three boys.[3] He was widowed in 1966.[3]
Visit by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
editCommissioner Costigan was involved in the security for the visit of then President John F. Kennedy to Ireland in 1963.[4] Three death threats had been received and Commissioner Costigan urged his subordinates not to overlook the possibility of any such threat no matter how implausible.[4] He regarded Kennedy's state visit as the most significant event in the country's history since independence.[4]
Criticism by Charles Haughey
editIn 1963, then Minister for Justice Charles Haughey accused the Commissioner of "talking through his hat" after learning that only 15% of criminals were fingerprinted (petty criminals were not).[5]
Criticism by Murphy Report
editThe Murphy Report criticised Commissioner Costigan for his handling of allegations of child abuse by Fr. Edmondus (pseudonym).[6][7] Scotland Yard had contacted him concerning images that the priest had sent to be developed in the UK.[6][7] Commissioner Costigan asked Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to handle it because a priest was involved and he claimed "Gardaí could prove nothing".[6][7]
References
edit- ^ Modern Irish lives: dictionary of 20th-century Irish biography, Ed. Louis McRedmond
- ^ A history of the Garda Síochána: a social history of the force 1922-52, Liam McNiffe
- ^ a b Stepaside for Mark[permanent dead link], Kevin Rafter, Sunday Tribune, 27 July 2005, retrieved 11 December 2009
- ^ a b c Ireland Knew of Threats to Kennedy in 1963 Trip Archived 2017-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, Alan Cowell, December 29, 2008, retrieved 11 December 2009
- ^ Angry Haughey hit out at garda chief Archived 2008-12-31 at the Wayback Machine, Fergus Black, Irish Independent, 30 December 2008, retrieved 11 December 2009
- ^ a b c Coulter, Carol (27 November 2009). "Garda connivance in stifling abuse inquiries deplored". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ a b c Murphy Report, Part 2 Archived 2010-01-17 at the Wayback Machine, Section 13.5