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Sub-Inspector Thomas Hartley Montgomery (c. 1842 – 26 August 1873, Omagh, Ireland) was a senior official of the Royal Irish Constabulary. He is the only police officer in Irish history to receive the death penalty for murder.
Thomas Hartley Montgomery | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1842 |
| Died | 26 August 1873 |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Spouse |
Annie Bell (m. 1870) |
| Parent |
|
Newtownstewart Murder edit
On 29 June 1871, Sub-Inspector Montgomery, who was chronically short of funds, assaulted William Glass, a clerk employed by the Northern Bank, with a hedge knife and stabbed him through the head with a filing spike. Sub-Inspector Montgomery then stole £1,600 from the till. In the aftermath, Inspector Montgomery took charge of the investigation and briefly succeeded in deflecting suspicion from himself. However, Montgomery's subordinates ultimately learned of his financial difficulties and eyewitnesses identified him as having left the bank one hour before the body of William Glass was discovered. As a result, a County Tyrone coroner's inquest brought a verdict of willful murder against Sub-Inspector Montgomery.
After two mistrials, the disgraced policeman was convicted of murder and hanged in the Omagh Gaol. His last words were "My Lord have mercy on my soul"
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