Daniel Costigan

Daniel Costigan (1911–1979) was Commissioner of An Garda Síochána from July 1952 until February 1965. ^[1][2]

Personal life

He and his wife Hilda had three sons and three girls.^[3] He was widowed in 1966.^[3]

Visit by John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Commissioner Costigan was involved in the security for the visit of then President John F. Kennedy to Ireland in 1963.^[4] Three death threats had been received and Commissioner Costigan urged his subordinates not to overlook the possibility of threats no matter how unlikely they were.^[4] He regarded the visit as the most important the country had since independence.^[4]

Criticism by Charles Haughey

In 1963, then Minister for Justice Charles Haughey accused the Commissioner of "talking through his hat" after learning that only 15% of criminals were fingerprinted (petty criminals were not).^[5]

Criticism by Murphy Report

The Murphy Report criticised Commissioner Costigan for his handling of allegations of child abuse by Fr. Edmondus (pseudonym).^[6][7] Scotland Yard had contacted him concerning images that the priest had sent to be developed in the UK.^[6][7] Commissioner Costigan asked Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to handle it because a priest was involved and he claimed "Gardaí could prove nothing".^[6][7]

References

1. ^ Modern Irish lives: dictionary of 20th-century Irish biography, Ed. Louis McRedmond
2. ^ A history of the Garda Síochána: a social history of the force 1922-52, Liam McNiffe
3. ^ ^{a b} Stepaside for Mark, Kevin Rafter, Sunday Tribune, 27 July 2005, retrieved 11 December 2009
4. ^ ^{a b c} Ireland Knew of Threats to Kennedy in 1963 Trip, Alan Cowell, December 29, 2008, retrieved 11 December 2009
5. ^ Angry Haughey hit out at garda chief, Fergus Black, Irish Independent, 30 December 2008, retrieved 11 December 2009
6. ^ ^{a b c} Garda connivance in stifling abuse inquiries deplored, Carol Coulter, The Irish Times, 27 November 2009, retrieved 11 December 2009
7. ^ ^{a b c} Murphy Report, Part 2, Section 13.5

Persondata
Name	Costigan, Daniel
Alternative names
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Date of birth	1911
Place of birth
Date of death	1979
Place of death