Daniel Costigan (1911–1979) was Commissioner of the Garda Síochána from July 1952 until February 1965.[1][2] Costigan was the second, and final, civilian commissioner of the Garda Siochana.
He and his wife Hilda had three daughters and three boys.[3] He was widowed in 1966.[3]
Commissioner Costigan was involved in the security for the visit of then President John F. Kennedy to Ireland in 1963.[4] Three death threats had been received and Commissioner Costigan urged his subordinates not to overlook the possibility of any such threat no matter how implausible.[4] He regarded Kennedy's state visit as the most significant event in the country's history since independence.[4]
In 1963, then Minister for Justice Charles Haughey accused the Commissioner of "talking through his hat" after learning that only 15% of criminals were fingerprinted (petty criminals were not).[5]
The Murphy Report criticised Commissioner Costigan for his handling of allegations of child abuse by Fr. Edmondus (pseudonym).[6][7] Scotland Yard had contacted him concerning images that the priest had sent to be developed in the UK.[6][7] Commissioner Costigan asked Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to handle it because a priest was involved and he claimed "Gardaí could prove nothing".[6][7]