Roll of Honor
Incident
About 11:00pm, while off duty and wearing civilian clothing, Constable Murtagh was shot dead, opposite St. Mary’s Church, Cork, when two gunmen fired at him as he walked along Popes Quay on his way back to his barracks, after attending the funeral of his colleague, Constable Charles Healy.
Joseph had been a member of the RIC for twenty-three years and lived at Sunday’s Well RIC station.
He was a widower with two young sons and was originally from County Westmeath, where he had been a farmer.
He was buried at the New Cemetery in Lismore, County Waterford, on 22nd March, beside his wife who had died twelve years earlier.
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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 Murtagh served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Murtagh.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Joseph Murtagh 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 Royal Irish Constabulary, 519 of 642 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Murtagh's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Murtagh Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Murtagh is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
641 officers from Royal Irish Constabulary are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
