The organisation of the resigned and dismissed members of the Royal Irish Constabulary was represented on the committee by Messrs O’Mahoney and Lyons, who had obtained from each of its members a statement on Form C.C.R. F.1. The form contained details of the facts relating to each case, and this preliminary information was placed at the disposal of the committee forming the basis for their subsequent investigations. A very interesting case is the application submitted by Constable John Synnott connected to his service in Newtownsandes, Listowel, Co. Kerry and his resignation in June 1920. His application details how he and a number of constables resigned because they refused to cooperate with an incoming troop of Black and Tans to the area. Synnott recalled how in the aftermath of their protestations, Colonel Smyth, Divisional Commissioner for police in Munster visited the barracks. Synnott recalled how he and thirteen others were paraded and Smyth delivered a “notorious speech”, defining in detail the policy of the Black and Tans. Synnott’s statement further details the subsequent action taken by him and the constables in informing other stations in the district about Smyth’s address and in particular, Smyth’s rough treatment of their spokesperson, Constable Mee. Synnott also claimed that he and the constables published a copy of Smyth’s speech in newspapers and copies were sent to nearly every member of the House of Commons.
For a partial history of the Constabulary in the 19th century (written by a County Inspector named Robert Curtis, in 1871) please view the resource from the "Irish Family History Centre" HERE