Jillianvt wrote:

According to my family history my Great Grandfather Thomas Hassett (1861 to 1929) did his training for the RIC here in 1882.  Indeed my Grand Aunt's memoirs says "Thomas (16.4.1861) also joined the RIC and claimed that when he was in training at the Depot, he was one of the first arrivals on the scene of the Burke and Cavendish murders." 

With thanks to Garda historian Jim Herlihy, I know Thomas Hassett joined on 9 January 1882 and was stationed in Dublin from 10 May 1882 and so he would have been in the Depot in Phoenix Park on 6 May 1882.  Does anyone know if there is any proof to this family tale?

Hi Jillianvt.
Only now seeing your post, I looked up the book 'The Phoenix Park Murders' by Senan Molony, Mercier Press, Cork, 2006 (ISBN 978-1-86535-511-7).
Hope this will be of some interest.

On pages 28/29, he writes: "Maguire [a cyclist who happened on the bodies with a companion named Foley] reached the [Phoenix monument] and then two RIC men miraculously appeared. He called incoherently at them, loudly, his voice choked. They stopped. 'There's been a murder', Maguire blurted, before an odd question tumbled from his mouth: 'Are you on duty?'
The two RIC men looked at each other. This wild dervish was babbling. The older one turned to Maguire: 'We are not'.
They turned to walk on........Maguire begged 'Please go to where the bodies are' and he pointed in the direction in which he had come. Seeing that the policemen were growing harder of hearing, he began pedalling again. Away from them. The policemen watched him leave and then walked in the direction of their depot."
[Maguire eventually met a DMP man near the gate who, with a companion, rushed to the murder scene on a horse-drawn car].

On pages 31/32 the author says:
"A Lt. Greatrex of the Royal Dragoons had been walking his dogs..........claimed to have been first at the bodies." [He'd then rushed off for help, collecting a passer-by from the Royal Engineers]. 
.........After a couple of hundred yards, they met two constables. These may have been [the same pair Maguire had met].....for when Greatrex told them what had happened they astonished him by replying that it was 'no business of theirs'.
........ Two [different] RIC men arrived at the scene from the viceregal lodge and looked startled to find that Walters [another passer-by who'd run to the lodge to tell the news] report was true."

So, it does appear two RIC men did come to the scene of the crime soon after the bodies were first discovered.
Unfortunately for you, no names are given.
But, it does leave open a good possibility that your family tale has a ring of truth to it?

The author lists a select bibliography. Of the books, these look the most interesting (to me) - if you could get hold of any:
Anon, Phoenix Park Murders: Depositions of Witnesses (Dublin, 1883);
Anon, Phoenix Park Murders: Reports of the Trials (Dublin, Thom, 1883); and
Corfe, Tom - The Phoenix Park Murders: Conflict Compromise and Tragedy in Ireland 1879-1882 (London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1968).
(The first two are out of copyright and may be online somewhere....).
You could also try checking newspaper archives about the murders & trial (late 1882 to 1883)....
Best of luck.

Regards
DesW