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Michael Comyn and Ben Briscoe Tribunal Inquiry Wicklow Gold mines

The Tribunal Inquiry regarding Michael Comyn and Bob (Ben) Briscoe and the Wicklow Gold Mines refers to a 1935 investigation by a Select Committee of the Dáil Éireann, sparked by allegations from Deputy Patrick McGilligan about the granting of a mining lease to Comyn and Briscoe, both Fianna Fáil politicians. Below is a concise overview based on available information:

Background

• Michael Comyn: A Fianna Fáil Senator, barrister, geologist, and mine operator, born in 1871 in County Clare. He had a background in the British Civil Service and was involved in various legal and mining activities.
• Bob (Robert) Briscoe: A Fianna Fáil TD and a prominent figure in Irish politics.
• Wicklow Gold Mines: The Goldmines River area in County Wicklow, known for a gold rush in 1795, has a history of gold and copper mining. The area was commercially worked for gold, with placer gold likely originating from iron deposits in the Ballycoog-Moneyteige ridge.

The Mining Lease and Allegations

• In 1934, Seán Lemass, Minister for Industry and Commerce, granted a mining lease to Comyn and Briscoe for 982 acres in County Wicklow to prospect for gold. A second lease for 2,000 acres was later issued.
• Comyn and Briscoe sub-leased their rights to a UK mining company for £12,000 in shares and royalties on any gold extracted. The UK company planned to raise funds on the stock market, a practice considered questionable post the 1929 Wall Street crash.
• Patrick McGilligan (Cumann na nGaedheal, later Fine Gael) raised concerns in the Dáil, implying impropriety in the lease’s allocation due to Comyn and Briscoe’s political ties to Lemass and Fianna Fáil. The allegations suggested favoritism and potential harm to State interests.

The Tribunal Inquiry

• Formation: On June 25, 1935, a Select Committee was appointed by the Dáil to investigate McGilligan’s allegations and the circumstances surrounding the lease, including the sub-lease to the UK company. The inquiry aimed to determine if the State’s interests were compromised.
• Scope: Initially, the inquiry focused on the Department of Industry and Commerce’s actions. At Comyn and Briscoe’s urging, it was expanded to include the sub-lease agreement, which involved third parties who misrepresented themselves as leaseholders and secured £10,000 and 50,000 shares in a proposed company. These parties allegedly threatened to raise the issue in the Dáil when Comyn and Briscoe rejected their deal.
• Debate: The inquiry was contentious, with debates over its terms of reference. McGilligan argued the allegations attributed to him were misrepresented, while Lemass and others emphasized exposing baseless claims. Some deputies, like Cosgrave, urged a non-partisan approach, focusing on whether the State suffered losses.
• Outcome: The sources do not provide a definitive conclusion from the inquiry. However, no evidence suggests Comyn or Briscoe were found guilty of wrongdoing. The inquiry highlighted the contentious nature of political allegations and the complexities of mining leases during a regulated economic period.

Additional Context

• Economic Climate: In 1935, Ireland’s economy was heavily regulated, with licenses and permits tightly controlled. Lemass was a dominant figure in economic policy, making the allocation of such leases politically sensitive.
• Gold Mining in Wicklow: The Goldmines River area had a history of gold extraction, notably during the 1795 gold rush, but yields were often modest. Later prospecting, including Comyn and Briscoe’s lease, produced limited results, with no significant gold finds reported after their time.

Critical Notes

• The inquiry appears to have been driven by political rivalries, with McGilligan’s allegations reflecting tensions between Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil. The lack of a clear resolution in available records suggests the allegations may not have been substantiated.
• The sub-lease to the UK company raised concerns about speculative financial practices, which were sensitive in the post-1929 economic climate, but no concrete evidence of fraud or loss to the State is documented in the provided sources.
• The inquiry’s rapid conclusion (noted as “over in just two hours” in some contexts, though this may refer to a specific session) contrasts with modern perceptions of lengthy tribunals, indicating it was likely a focused investigation.

If you need more specific details or wish to explore related aspects (e.g., Comyn’s geological background or later mining attempts in Wicklow), please let me know! I can also search for additional sources or analyze specific documents if you have them.

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