John Divney

John Divney is a character in Flan O'Brien's novel "The Third Policeman".

The narrator views him somewhat negatively, however, he agrees with him enough to consider and carry out his plan to rob and kill a well-off older man. During the robbery, John runs off with the black box and returns without it, saying that it is in a hidden place. John Divney refuses to reveal the location of the hiding place.

The narrator refuses to let John Divney out of his sight, even resorting to sleeping in the same bed as John and always remaining with him for fear that John Divney will cheat him. Eventually, John tells the narrator where the box is located, and that he should retrieve it.

It is revealed at the end of the book that John Divney had planted a bomb in the box and had killed the narrator. However, when the narrator sees John Divney again, John dies of a heart attack and joins the narrator on his journey to the police station.