Location of sub inspector in RIC

[sirsimon]

His rank on his record is constable, just constable, no mention of a sub

He received no promotion

[deebel]

His rank on his record is constable, just constable, no mention of a sub

He received no promotion

My understanding is that the rank of Constable was equivalent to Sergeant and the rank of Sub-Constable was equivalent to what we understand to be an ordinary PC. So my query is did he serve as a Sub-Constable before being appointed Constable?

(You mention Sub-Inspector Bracken who was a rank below Inspector)

[sirsimon]

I don't know if he started as a sub constable. He certainly wasn't just a sub, but it doesn't state any promotions. If he was a constable, it would have given the date of his promotion from sub constable.

Would an obituary in the newspaper mention his rank? It would be a clue

The only death record I can find that would be compatible is William Fitzpatrick, whom died in Cashel in 1933.

[deebel]

I don't know if he started as a sub constable. He certainly wasn't just a sub, but it doesn't state any promotions. If he was a constable, it would have given the date of his promotion from sub constable.

I'm not an authority on this in any way but was it not the case the Irish Constabulary became the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1867? Did he have previous police service to enable him to start in a promoted rank?

[sirsimon]

I don't think he had any previous experience

He joined in 1867 and before that he was farmer, as most constables were before joining

Is it possible that his rank was affected by the system change in 1883?

This link has the ranks of the constabulary

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/royal-irish-constabulary.htm

William's death record?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FTV1-BYD