Roll of Honor
Incident
On Easter Monday, 1916, Constable O’Brien was on duty, unarmed, at the Cork Hill entrance to Dublin Castle, when he was confronted by a group of rebel volunteers who, between 11:00am and noon, demanded entry into the castle’s upper yard but were denied access. The rebel leader then threatened the officer and pointed a gun at him. Constable O’Brien stood his ground and was shot in the head and killed.
James was the first fatality in what became the Easter Rising.
He was born in 1868 in Kilfergus, County Limerick, and at the time of his death he had served for twenty-one years.
He was temporarily buried within the castle grounds but on 28th April his body was exhumed and moved to Mount Argus Church. The following day he was taken back to his home town of Kilfergus, where he was buried.
He was survived by his sister Johanna and his brother William.
The rebel leader was, himself, shot dead by a British Army sniper about an hour after killing Constable O’Brien.
Survivors
He was survived by his sister Johanna and his brother William.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-DMP-E02B96DB- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable O’Brien served with the Dublin Metropolitan Police.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable James O’Brien is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In L, 592 of 749 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79% of this state's fallen. That is 79 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Dublin Metropolitan Police, 20 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James O’Brien's cause is highlighted.
How James O’Brien Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James O’Brien is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from Dublin Metropolitan Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
