Cork
Downing was an ex-soldier and the son of an ex-RIC man. He was kidnapped while going to a Discharged Soldiers’ and Sailors’ meeting on Tuesday 23 November 1920 according to Cork Examiner. Immediately after his disappearance a notice was circulated in Cork: ‘Kidnapping in Cork. Notice. If Mr Downey [sic] is not returned to his home within 56 hours, Cork citizens prepare, especially Sinn Feiners. Black and Tans.’ He worked as a civilian telegrapher for the Royal Engineers at Victoria Barracks
1881 Born
Cork
1901 census at 33 Gillabbey Street , Cork
1911 Feb 24 Married in Cork
1911 census at Wellington Terrace , Cork
Before the war, Downing was employed as a Telegraph Clerk, or Telegraphist, at the General Post Office in Cork. He enlisted at some stage in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service Number 210999) but did not serve at the Front and it would seem from later writers that he was employed as a Telegraphist in Victoria Barracks. He was discharged as suffering from Phthisis, or Pulmonary Tuberculosis, in March 1917 and was awarded a pension
1916 Oct 21 Enlisted in RE
1917 Mar 19. Discharged Phistitis He seems to have returned to his previous employment after his discharge.
1918 Aug he became Chairman of the newly-formed Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Association in Cork and served in that capacity until about January 1920. He remained as a member and also in his role as a member of the City and County of Cork War Pensions Committee serving on this committee along with Josephine Marchment Brown, the IRA spy.
1920 Nov 23. Downing was abducted in King (now MacCurtain Street) while on his way to a meeting of the Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Association at their St. Patrick’s Quay offices. Kidnapped and later shot in Cork. He was executed as a spy by city Volunteers on 28 November 1920.
1920 Nov 27. the notice, below, was placed in the Cork newspapers: - ‘KIDNAPPING IN CORK – NOTICE – If Mr. Downey (sic) is not returned to his home within 56 hours Cork citizens prepare, especially Sinn Féiners. – BLACK AND TANS’
1920 Dec 3. ‘IRISH FEDERATION OF DISCHARGED SAILORS AND SOLDIERS – CORK BRANCH – 18 St. Patrick’s Quay. – TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN – If any person or persons are responsible for the custody of Thomas Downing, 8 Castleview Terrace, Cork, a Member of the above organisation, - He or they are requested to allow him to communicate with his wife. – Further – That if he is held on suspicion of any offence, the Ex-Servicemen of Cork demand that he gets a fair and humane trail, at which they desire to be legally represented. – By Order of the Executive, JOHN FLYNN, Secretary.’
There is a report from Florrie O'Donoughue to the IRA's Adjutant General that Downing had been convicted and shot was a spy. But there are no Witness Statement, and Downings body has never been found, so no death certificate
His name appears in the Compensation Commission Register with an ‘L’ for Liability (ie British). A record, indicates that his wife Bridget Downing was awarded compensation of £750 for her husband’s death. His name appears in the Compensation Commission Register under 24 November 1920, with the notation that British liability was accepted. His wife Bridget (Bride) Downing was awarded compensation of £750 for her husband’s death, and the children were awarded £1,250, or a total of £2,000 altogether. See Register of Compensation Commission (Ireland) Cases of Private Persons (CO 905/15, TNA).
