Dennis O'Brien (policeman)

Dennis O'Brien (17 June 1898 – 9 September 1942),. PoliceHistory.com. Retrieved 30 January 2010. often called "Dinny O’Brien", was a veteran of the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War. He joined the Garda Síochána in 1933 and was killed by the Irish Republican Army.

Irish War of Independence

O’Brien had fought alongside his two brothers, Lawrence and Patrick, in Marrowbone Lane during the Easter Rising of 1916.

Afterwards they had served together in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.

Irish Civil War

All three brothers joined the Anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War. In fact, Patrick and Dennis O'Brien were part of the force which seized the Four Courts and precipitated the Battle of Dublin . Later that year, Patrick was killed in action at Enniscorthy.

Police career

Dennis O'Brien remained a member of the IRA until 1933. In that year, Éamon de Valera, the new President of the Executive Council (prime minister) of the Irish Free State, issued a call for IRA veterans to join the Gardaí. Many Pro-Treaty veterans of the Civil War had been cashiered from their jobs in the Irish police and military after de Valera won took power. De Valera hoped to fill their places with men who shared his views on the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Many Anti-Treaty veterans who answered his call regarded this as an opportunity to continue fighting their Civil War foes.

O'Brien remained in the...
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