Baronial Constabulary

Baronial Constabulary. Constables were first appointed in the baronies and parishes of Ireland during the 14th century. Their duties were extensive, being military and civil as well as criminal. Constables in particular acted for magistrates, who often appointed them.

In 1787 the government, dissatisfied with the ineffectiveness of these local constables, established a new constabulary force, which could be dispatched to disturbed counties. But magistrates and grand juries resented this usurpation of their traditional powers and the force was deployed in only four counties. In 1792 the Irish parliament reaffirmed the right of grand juries to appoint eight constables in baronies where the 1787 act was not in operation. But all such constables had to be Protestants; most were poorly paid, unarmed, and lacked uniforms; and many seem to have worked only on a part‐time basis. This Baronial Constabulary, known as the ‘Barnies’, remained the main agent of law enforcement in rural Ireland until 1822 when it was replaced by the new centrally controlled Irish Constabulary (see police).

Elizabeth Malcolm