Daniel Costigan

Daniel Costigan (1911–1979) was Commissioner of the Garda Síochána from July 1952 until February 1965. [1][2]

Personal life

He and his wife Hilda had three sons and three girls.[3] He was widowed in 1966.[3]

Visit by John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Commissioner 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 threats no matter how unlikely they were.[4] He regarded the visit as the most important the country had since independence.[4]

Criticism by Charles Haughey

In 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

The 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

  1. ↑ Modern Irish lives: dictionary of 20th-century Irish biography, Ed. Louis McRedmond
  2. ↑ A history of the Garda Síochána: a social history of the force 1922-52, Liam McNiffe
  3. 1 2 Stepaside for Mark, Kevin Rafter, Sunday Tribune, 27 July 2005, retrieved 11 December 2009
  4. 1 2 3 Ireland Knew of Threats to Kennedy in 1963 Trip, Alan Cowell, December 29, 2008, retrieved 11 December 2009
  5. ↑ Angry Haughey hit out at garda chief, Fergus Black, Irish Independent, 30 December 2008, retrieved 11 December 2009
  6. 1 2 3 Garda connivance in stifling abuse inquiries deplored, Carol Coulter, The Irish Times, 27 November 2009, retrieved 11 December 2009
  7. 1 2 3 Murphy Report, Part 2, Section 13.5
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