James O’Brien

Dublin Metropolitan Police — Dublin, L

Felonious

End of Watch April 24, 1916

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 187 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 33

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
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Added to badge.nw: April 8, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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

Department Dublin Metropolitan Police

Location Dublin, L

Platform Identity dmpd.ie.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1916

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Constable James O’Brien is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Dublin Metropolitan Police

of 34 officers

58.8% Felonious

L — Statewide

592

of 749 officers

79% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious