The question of whether a railway station is considered a public place was the subject of a debated case at Tipperary Petty Sessions. Constable Killain, a plain-clothes policeman at Limerick Junction Station, charged Edmond Howard with being drunk and disorderly on the railway platform.

The Chairman pointed out that the police could only prosecute if the offence occurred in a public place. According to a recently celebrated Wicklow case, a public place was defined as a location where the public had unrestricted access. As the public only had limited access to the railway station, it did not meet the criteria of a public place. Therefore, the police should not have brought this charge, and it should have been the responsibility of the railway company.

Sergeant Keegan, defending the police’s decision to bring the charge, stated that the railway company expected them to prosecute. However, the Chairman reiterated that the police could not give instructions in this matter.

Mr Heird pointed out that the police could intervene if necessary to assist the station porters. Mr Bennett clarified that the police could charge a person only when they were put off the premises.

Ultimately, the case was dismissed without prejudice. In other news, it is rumoured at Depot that there will be vacancies in the Band due to the retirement and transfer of some members. If the rumours are true, the vacancies will be filled by the Army, as the bandmaster intends to recruit from there. Members of the Force need not apply for these vacancies.

Constabulary Gazette (Dublin) – Saturday 28 January 1905