For over two years, I have worked on Dublin’s Dame Street right next door to Dublin Castle. Housed within Dublin Castle is the Garda Museum and Archives, which showcases the history of An Garda Siochana and provides information on policing in Ireland prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Despite my close proximity to this resource, it never occurred to me, that it might be a source of information on any of my family members. I have been researching my family tree for some time now, and having reached a brick wall in my search on my direct line i.e. parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc., I decided to change tact somewhat and have a look at the siblings of my paternal grandfather. I started searching pay to view site ancestry.co.uk for birth records of the known siblings based on information contained in the 1911 Census. 
Source; http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Cavan/Canningstown/Knocknashammer/345265/ Searching for Thomas R. Johnston born c.1902 in County Cavan, the returns included a Royal Irish Constabulary Service Record, listing ‘Thos R Johnston’ from Cavan who enlisted in 1920 and deceased 1921. I also took a look at the family headstone, which lists Thomas R died 21st January 1921. 
Unfortunately the previously mentioned Garda Museum and Archives is currently closed for renovation, and I have not as of yet obtained a copy of Thomas’ service records, although copies of service records can also be obtained from the Irish National Archives. On this I am must interested to see who recommended Thomas for recruitment as a candidate had to be personally known to, and recommended by, a local magistrate, justice of the peace, Protestant or Catholic clergyman or RIC Sub Inspector/ District Inspector. However despite the fact I have not yet acquired a copy of his service record, Thomas’ death record and newspaper reports from the 1921 provide a great deal of information relating to his death.. Thomas Robert born in 1901, he joined the Police known as the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1920, and was stationed in Cork. On 4 January 1921, whilst Thomas was returning to the main police barracks in Cork city with a number of other R.I.C. men, the group came under gun and bomb attack from members of the first battalion of Cork No. 1 Brigade, at Parnell Bridge. The following article from the Irish Independent on 6 January 1921 outlines the events which occurred INA-Article (7). Although the dates are different, the following is also an account of the events which occurred on Parnell Bridge, from Michael Walsh of Cork No. 1 Brigade, who was involved in mounting the attack on the Group, which Thomas was part off. 
Source; http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1521.pdf Thomas was one of six R.I.C. men injured at Parnell Bridge and was removed to the Central Military Hospital in Victoria Barracks. 
Parnell Bridge, Cork, Early 20th Century. Source; http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/exhibition/cork/government_politics_institutions/LCAB_02604_Parnell_Bridge_Cork.html Thomas died two weeks later on 21 January 1921 at the Central Military Hospital, aged just 19 years old. His cause of death is listed as ‘death by haemorrhage caused by wounds of left shin, right knee and ankle caused by bomb wilful murder’. 
My Genealogy Research Journey 