From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Department of Finance
Published on
Last updated on
A series of files consisting of claims for damages by individuals for injuries or death during the War of Independence or Civil War have today transferred from the Department of Finance to the National Archives. Work will now begin on these files preparing them for public release in April 2023.
This collection contains first-hand accounts by claimants including medical and personal data relating to events during a turbulent period in our history. The collection is heart-breaking on a very human level, demonstrating that people of all ages, from all and no sides, were affected in varying ways during these difficult years. The files relate to ordinary men, women and children going about their daily lives; in cities, towns, on farms or in businesses who were either deliberately targeted or shot, or accidentally caught in crossfire or bomb blasts.
Speaking of the records, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, said:
“These records show in a very profound way how lives were lost or shattered during the War of Independence and the Civil War. This collection includes heart-breaking accounts of the physical injuries inflicted on ordinary people, but also the psychological injuries too, the unseen effects of war from those who took their own lives, or ended up in institutions unable to forget the terrible events they had witnessed.
"In a retelling of painful events, through the recounting of ‘facts’ and the awarding of damages on varying scales, this collection brings home the true reality of the human cost of those turbulent times.”
Speaking at the National Archives, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said:
“The Compensation (Personal Injuries) Committee was constituted by President WT Cosgrave in his capacity as Minister for Finance in 1922 and applications were received from across the country. The Financial Compensation Files give a previously unseen and perhaps unromantic ground level view of what are this country’s most formative years.
"What makes these files important is what they do not contain. With the exception of a number of papers relating to fatalities of Bloody Sunday 1920, the overwhelming majority of claims are from individuals otherwise unrecorded by history, the silent majority. The files give insight into not just well known events like Bloody Sunday and the shelling of the Four Courts, but also minor actions in every county of Ireland and places as far away as India.
"I have no doubt that when this collection is made available to the public next year that the stories within will be an invaluable source of social and personal histories for historians, academics as well descendants and family members.”
The National Archives also hold large collections of other financial compensation files relating to claims for damage to property made under various pieces of legislation, from 1916, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
The files will be released to the public in April 2023.
The Compensation (Personal Injuries) Committee was constituted by President WT Cosgrave, in his capacity as Minister for Finance. The Committee consisted of County Court Judge William Johnston (Chairman), Dr T Hennessy and Dr Henry Kennedy.
The terms of reference were as follows:
I The Committee shall receive, investigate and consider applications for compensation presented by any person who has suffered loss by reason of having been injured in his person or by dependents of any person who has died in consequence of having been so injured in any of the following cases, occurring since the 21st January 1919, namely:
(1) Where the injury was an injury to which the Criminal Injuries Acts would have been applied by the Criminal Injuries (Ireland) Act, 1919, as amended by the Criminal Injuries (Ireland) Act, 1920, had these Acts remained in force.
(2) Where the injured person was or was likely to be excluded from the benefit of the Criminal Injuries Acts as so applied, by reason only of the injury having been inflicted by members of the British military or police forces.
(3) Where the injury was sustained without default on the part of a person being a non-combatant in the course of a person belligerent action between the British forces and the Irish National forces, or in the course of operations by the National forces against persons engaged in armed rebellion against the Government of Saorstat Eireann whether before or after the passing of the Constitution.
II The Committee will recommend to the Minister of Finance what sums should in reason and fairness be paid in the several cases above mentioned, regard being had to (inter alia) the actual earning capacity of the injured person prior to the injury and to the impairment of earning capacity attributable to the injury and to the actual extent of dependency of dependents upon the deceased person prior to the death or injury of the deceased person, and to any effective provision made by the deceased person for his dependents by way of insurance or otherwise.
III The Committee shall in general recommend awards by way of lump sum but shall also recommend in the alternative monthly or quarterly allowances in cases of injury considered likely to be permanent. The payment of a periodical allowance may be recommended to commence on the 1st day of April, 1923, but a payment of a sum in the nature of arrears, but not exceeding the amount of one year’s arrears, may be also recommended.
IV The Committee shall not recommend an award in any of the following cases:
(1) Cases eligible for any award under any Act making provision for army pensions.
(2) Cases in which a final decree under the Criminal Injuries Acts was obtained prior to the 12th February 1922; and
(3) Cases in which the British Government have undertaken full liability.
The Committee will report to the Minister for Finance.