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Alan Bell
District Inspector

Alan Bell

Royal Irish Constabulary — L
Felonious
United Kingdom flag
End of Watch March 26, 1920
Age 62
The Vigil Panel 87 · Column 2 · Line 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 641

Incident

He was born in Banagher, King’s County (Offaly) and joined theRoyal Irish Constabularyin September 1879 as a cadet, serving in the counties of Cavan, Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, and Cork up to the rank of District Inspector. During the land war (1879–82) he investigated sources of Land League funds and in 1882 arrested the American land reformer and journalist Henry George in Athenry. Along with District Inspector William Henry Joyce, he compiled evidence against the nationalist and agrarian agitation for the special commission of 1888–9 which investigated charges against the nationalist leader and his associates. Bell’s actions made him popular with unionists but a marked man among nationalists.

After almost twenty years’ police service, he became a resident magistrate (12th November 1898), a civil service post under the Constabulary Act, 1836. Bell’s districts included Athenry, Claremorris, Armagh, Belfast, and Portadown. With many years’ experience in criminal intelligence, he was transferred to Dublin Castle early in the war of independence as a special investigator and intelligence gatherer. In December 1919 he questioned suspects for the attempted terrorist assassination of the viceroy, Lord French, and placed suspect premises under surveillance. Bell’s vulnerability was made evident by the shooting in January 1920 ofDublin Metropolitan PoliceAssistant CommissionerWilliam Redmond, one of his informants. He remained in Dublin to investigate the ‘republican loan’ believed to be hidden in suspect bank accounts. Refusing protective accommodation in Dublin Castle where other officials had already retreated, he opted to live with his wife at a private suburban residence, 19 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, County Dublin. Bell summoned bank managers to his office in early March 1920 and progressed sufficiently to force Collins into taking action.

Carrying a pocket revolver for protection, Bell travelled to work daily by tram until the morning of 26th March 1920. At the busy junction of Simmonscourt Road, Sandymount Avenue, and Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, a group of men immobilised the crowded vehicle and surrounded their target, declaring: ‘Come on, Mr Bell, your time has come.’ Bundling him on to the street, they shot him dead in public view and ran from the scene. In spite of vivid eyewitness accounts in the press, no killer was identified.

He was buried privately in Dean’s Grange cemetery.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
District Inspector Bell served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, District Inspector Bell.

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

Agency

Department Royal Irish Constabulary
Location L
Platform Identity rico.nir.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 26, 1920
Age 62
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Alan 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1920, 185 officers in Ireland were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 250.

Every year on record · Ireland
II

Who

Alan was 62. 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

March holds 10.7% of these deaths in Ireland; May holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.5%.

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, Alan among them.

Across the years

District Inspector Alan Bell

Royal Irish Constabulary · End of Watch March 26, 1920

Where the Name Is Cut

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