Constable

Martin O’Brien

Felonious
End of Watch April 6, 1919
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident

Shot dead by IRA gunmen trying to free a prisoner he was guarding.

Shot dead by terrorist gunmen trying to free a prisoner he was guarding in the Limerick Union Hospital. Another officer was seriously injured but survived while the prisoner was also wounded and died later that day.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable O’Brien served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable O’Brien.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location L
Platform Identity rico.nir.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1919
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Martin is one of 605 officers killed feloniously in Ireland, 79.1% of the 765 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 16 officers in Ireland were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 250.

Every year on record · Ireland
II

Who

Martin was 35. Of the 543 killed feloniously in Ireland whose age is recorded, half were between 24 and 41; the middle age was 31.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 12.2% of these deaths in Ireland; May holds the most, 14.9%. Sundays: 17.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 79.1% of all 765 deaths in Ireland, the most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Royal Irish Constabulary has at least 120 officers remembered here, Martin among them.

Across the years

Constable Martin O’Brien

Royal Irish Constabulary · End of Watch April 6, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

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