The Dáil Courts were an integral part of the Irish Republic's policy of undermining British rule in Ireland by establishing a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.
[10] The Parish Courts were usually arbitrated by local Irish Republican Army, Catholic clergy, or Sinn Féin figures who had authority in the area.
They filled a vacuum created by the conflict, and sought to persuade people who were inclined to fear the IRA's revolutionary nature that an independent Ireland would not set aside personal and property rights.
A proposed amendment, by Ulster deputies Joseph O'Doherty and Ernest Blythe, to remove the right of clergymen to sit as ex-officio members, was defeated.
In his witness statement, (Bureau of Military History) William T. O'Keeffe, a Staff Officer with the South Mayo Brigade, IRA, credited men from the Claremorris Battalion, Commandant P.R.
Hughes in particular (Hughes was Officer in Command of IRA Intelligence and Communications and later appointed one of the first District Justices of the Irish Free State in 1923) along with solicitor Connor A. Maguire (who became a Barrister-at-Law in 1922, and who later served as Attorney General of the Irish Free State (1932), President of the High Court (1936) and Chief Justice (1946))[15] as being responsible for the establishment of the first Sinn Féin courts.
The Royal Irish Constabulary had been compelled to withdraw from the outlying districts and stations to the larger towns, and had become an armed garrison rather than a civil police force.
[16] Among the offences dealt with by the courts were "rowdyism", larceny, breaches of the licensing laws, damage to property, 'abusive language towards women', bank and post-office robberies and assaults.
Treason, as interpreted by the IRA, was punishable by death, and was not part of the Dáil courts' remit, being dealt with summarily by court-martial in absentia.
[20] The courts were important in bringing the IRA further under the authority of the Dáil in some parts, which hitherto had been little more than nominal, as some commanders were overly inclined to prize their autonomy.
Limerick, that there are decisions awaiting to be carried out for the past 1½ years and 12 months &c.I think that the Volunteer Officers in this District think it beneath their dignity as great military men to do the work of the courts or get it done.(pg.
I have also to report that the volunteer police, here, are being actually discouraged and prevented from doing their duty by incompetent Officers.Yours truly, John Leasey[21] Hostility to the courts was not confined to those against the Irish Republic.
Peadar O'Donnell, a socialist and senior IRA officer in north-east County Donegal, attempted to subvert its decisions when he felt that the interests of large estate-holders were being upheld.
After the Truce declared between the British and Irish sides in July 1921, the Dail Courts, which had largely been suppressed during hostilities, re-emerged across the country.
Irish Republic) by the members who were elected for constituencies in Ireland and who first assembled in a Parliament held in the Mansion House at Dublin on the 21st day of January, 1919.The winding-up of the Dáil Courts was undertaken by Judicial Commissioners appointed under the Act over a two-year period.