James Owens

Died

16 September 1849

Age

Rank

Sub-Constable

Force

Royal Irish Constabulary

Cause

Homicide - Stabbed

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Stabbed to death with a pike as rebels fled from a failed assault on Cappoquin barracks.

Roll of Honour Citation

Stabbed to death with a pike as rebels fled from a failed assault on Cappoquin barracks.

Circumstances

Cappoquin barracks came under attack on September 16th 1849. It was reported that "half an hour before the town was perfectly quiet and not a person was to be seen, and if an old woman had not muttered to the Sergeant that bad work was at hand and he better take care of himself the whole party would have been murdered, as they had only time to barricade the doors before a mob of about 200 ruffians arrived". The loss of the element of surprise doomed the assault to failure. Seven well-armed policemen, assisted by Sir Richard Keane's ranger, withstood the brief siege. One of the attackers was killed and the fleeing rebels piked a Sub-Constable Owens to death.

It was reported that “half an hour before, the town was perfectly quiet and not a person was to be seen, and if an old woman had not muttered to the Sergeant that bad work was at hand and he better take care of himself, the whole party would have been murdered, as they only had time to barricade the doors before a mob of about 200 ruffians arrived”.

The loss of the element of surprise doomed the assault to failure. Seven well-armed RIC officers, assisted by Sir Richard Keane’s ranger, withstood the brief siege. One of the attackers was killed.