Seán Patrick McCurtin (24 June 1896 – 12 November 1982) was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician and National Army officer from County Tipperary.[1]
Seán McCurtin | |
|---|---|
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office August 1923 – June 1927 | |
| Constituency | Tipperary |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1896 County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 12 November 1982 (aged 86) County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Political party | Cumann na nGaedheal |
Active in the Irish War of Independence, McCurtin participated in many ambushes including the one at Modreeny on 3 June 1921.[2] Shortly after the Truce he went north of the border to assist against the B-Specials. He was arrested and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment at Enniskillen assizes on 13 March 1922 for possession of firearms and ammunition, and transferred to Aberdeen prison in 1923.[3][4] His brother Austin was a commandant in the National Army, killed during the Civil War in County Laois.[5]
McCurtin was first elected to Dáil Éireann while in prison, as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála (TD) for the Tipperary constituency at the 1923 general election.[1] The Free State government regarded him as one of a number of political prisoners and demanded their release.[4][6] The British government undertook to review their cases, and the Northern Ireland prime minister, Sir James Craig, agreed to accept the review's conclusions.[5] McCurtin was released with 32 others on 25 January 1926,[5] and took his seat in the Dáil on 23 March 1926.[7]
McCurtin did not contest the June 1927 general election.[8] He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1932 and 1933 general elections.[8] His later career was as a solicitor in Nenagh.[9] An attempt was made in 1934 to kill his clerk Michael Flynn.[10] McCurtin became state solicitor for the Division of Tipperary in September 1948.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b "Seán McCurtin". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ Nenagh News, Page: 3, 25 August 1923.
- ^ "Irish Prisoners – vol 181 cc616–20". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 5 March 1925.
- ^ a b "Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral answers. - Deputy imprisoned in Scotland". Dáil Éireann debates. 13 December 1923. pp. Vol. 5 No. 23 p.3 c1809. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ a b c McConville, Seán (2003). Irish Political Prisoners 1848–1922: Theatres of War. Routledge. p. 768. ISBN 9780415219914. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Release of political prisoners by Northern Government". Dáil Éireann debates. 9 June 1925. pp. Vol. 12 No. 5 p.3 c.479. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Deputy takes his seat". Dáil Éireann debates. 23 March 1926. pp. Vol. 14 No. 16 p.32 cc.1498–99. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Seán McCurtin". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ Irish Press, Page 4, 9 April 1932.
- ^ Irish Examiner, Page 9, 24 January 1934.
- ^ Munster Express, Page 3, 24 September 1948.