DETECTIVE SERGEANT AT NAAS RETIRES AFTER LONG SERVICE

Leinster Leader 30 November 1968

Detective Sergeant at Naas retires after long service

Detective Sergeant Thomas J. Spain, Naas, last serving member of the fifty ex-Army officers selected to form the nucleus of the first Detective Branch of the Garda Siochána before it became amalgamated with the Dublin Metropolitan Garda, retired from the service last week.

As testimony of his popularity he was presented with a canteen of cutlery and a wallet of notes by the officers and members of Carlow-Kildare Division at a dinner-dance in McTernan’s, Kilcullen, at which he and his wife and family were guests of honour. Mrs. Spain was presented with a handbag and accessories.

Mr. Spain, native of Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, joined Fianna Éireann in 1916 and transferred to the I.R.A. in 1919 and was on ‘the run’ with the Active Service Unit until the Truce in 1921, and took part in engagements with the First Tipperary Brigade under the command of Brigadier Sean Gaynor.

He joined the National Army on its inception and served with the rank of Captain until the Army Mutiny in 1924, when he resigned.

He joined the Garda Siochána and in 1925 was one of the ex-Army officers selected to form the Detective Branch and served in Kilkenny, Portlaoise, Tralee, Limerick, where he was promoted Sergeant in 1959 and in 1960 was transferred to Naas where he has since served.

Commended

During his career in the Detective Branch he helped in the investigation of serious crime, including murders, throughout the country and on a number of these he worked in collaboration with the late Supt. George Lawlor, native of Monasterevan. Det. Sgt. Spain was a firm believer in the use of technical means for the investigation of crime.

He gave evidence in many criminal cases and was more than once complimented from the Bench of the District Court, Circuit Court and the Central Criminal Court on the clarity and impartiality of his evidence.

His wife was formerly Miss Mary B. Morgan, Kilkenny city. They have two sons, Roderick, a production officer with Unidare, Finglas, Dublin; Francis, a barrister-at-law, practising on the Eastern Circuit, and one daughter Mary, attending St. Mary’s Secondary School, Naas, and is studying for her Leaving Certificate.

His comment on his career in the Detective Branch: ‘It was a long service but I enjoyed every minute of it. I worked hard but I was always interested in the solution of the crime.’

The presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Spain was made by the Chief Supt. C. Flood, Naas. Many tributes to the retiring officer were paid at the function at which Sergt. J. Casey, P.S.V. Inspector, Naas, made an excellent M.C. Supt. T. Corbett said that with the departure of Sergt. Spain there was a break with the first generation of the Gardai.

Det. Officer Tom Connolly, Sergt. Senan Keogh, Kildare (on behalf of Supt. Fanning), Det. Officer W. White, Droichead Nua, Garda Jim Fitzgerald, Naas (Chairman of the Garda Representative Body), Sergt. Maurice Short, Athy, Insp. Kevin McDermott, Coolock (formerly of Naas), Sergt. M. Sullivan, Blessington, Sergt. M. Halloran, Naas, Garda M. Fallon, Naas, and Sergt. Casey were among those to pay tribute to Sergt. Spain.

Chief Supt. Flood said that Sergt. Spain was of highest integrity and absolute reliability; he was wholly dependable and most considerate to those involved in disciplinary matters. Sergt. Spain said that he was proud to have served with many men of integrity and character who had helped him in every way and whose example he had tried to emulate.