New book focuses on murder committed in County Kildare which just turned 100 years old

A newly released book will focus on a 100-year-old murder that was committed in County Kildare.

Strength of Comradeship: The Milltown Murder: Private Joseph Bergin 14 December 1923 by Mark D McLoughlin is the latest publication to be produced as part of Kildare County Council’s Decade of Commemorations Programme.  

The book is an account of the murder of National Army soldier Private Joseph Bergin, whose body was discovered in the Grand Canal near Milltown in County Kildare in December 1923.

Using a wide range of sources from the Military Archives, National Archives, contemporary newspapers and trial reports, author Mark D McLoughlin describes the events that led up to the killing, the principal individuals involved and the well-publicised trials held in following years.  

Mark D McLoughlin also writes about the involvement of Military Intelligence in the killing and subsequent cover-up, including of senior officers, is also discussed in this publication. 

Copies of the book are available to download on the Kildare Library Service website at: Strength of Comradeship by Mark D McLoughlin.pdf (kildarecoco.ie).

It is also freely available as an e-book through the Kildare Library Service BorrowBox service, while a limited number of hard copies are available to collect from branch libraries in County Kildare. 

Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-23 initiative & the Kildare County Council Decade of Commemorations Committee.