President, Sarah Pennington welcomed everyone to the April meeting of the King’s Somborne WI and introduced the speaker for the evening, Steve Herra, who spoke about the “Mystery of the Irish Crown Jewels”.
The Irish crown jewels were not linked to the monarchy but to the order of St Patrick, an elite aristocratic order founded in 1783. They were stolen from Dublin Castle’s Belford Tower in 1907.
The jewels themselves consisted of a star decorated with Brazilian diamonds and an emerald trefoil with a ruby cross. The insignia comprised 394 individual jewels, mostly from Queen Charlotte’s jewellery. At today’s value the jewels would be worth approximately £20.4 million. They were guarded twenty-four hours a day by outdoor patrols of police and soldiers. In 1903 a safe room was installed in the tower, but the doorway was too small to accommodate the safe, so it had to remain in the castle library. A cleaner, Mrs Mary Farrell discovered the theft on the 6th July 1907.
The locks for the safe had not been tampered with, so an inside job was suspected. DCI John Kane from the Metropolitan Police was drafted in to help with the investigation. There were many suspects as security was not the best, including Frances Shackleton, brother of the explorer Ernest. He was in financial difficulties at the time. A Republican group, and a Unionist group led by Lord Haddo were also in the frame. A reward of £1000 for the jewels safe return was posted.
Sir Arthur Vicars, responsible for the security of the jewels was sacked and all the documents from DCI John Kane’s investigation went missing in London after his return. The mystery of who stole the jewels and their whereabouts remains unsolved.
The President thanked Steve Herra for such a fascinating insight to a long-standing mystery. The President also thanked members of the WI who made such delicious cakes and those who gave up their Sunday afternoon to serve teas for the Bean Car Rally. The rally members very much appreciated it.
The next meeting is on 14th May, our AGM.
Avis Stephens
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