Continuing our series on the events of 1920 with the help of the daily newspaper of the First Dáil, the Irish Bulletin.
LEST WE FORGET (20)
The following are the Acts of Aggression Committed in Ireland by the armed Military and Police of the Usurping English Government – as reported in the Daily Press, for the Week ending APRIL 3rd, 1920:
The sentences passed on political offenders during the above five days, totalled 9 years.
MONDAY, MARCH 29th, 1920
Raids:– Armed military forcibly entered over a score of private residences in Dublin in the early hours of the morning, searching every room and perusing the private correspondence of the occupiers. In many cases the residents were arrested. Among the houses visited were those of Mr. Laurence Ginnell, Member of Parliament for Westmeath, Mr. Philip Shanahan, Member of Parliament for the Clontarf division of Dublin City, Mr. Charles Murphy, recently elected Alderman of the Dublin Corporation, and Mr. T. J. Loughlin recently elected Councillor of the same body. At Carrick-on-Suir five houses were raided by police. At Thurles, Co. Tipperary eight houses were raided by armed police. In other parts of Ireland, Bandon, Clonakilty and Fermoy, Co. Cork, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, Gort, Co. Galway, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Listowel, Co. Kerry, and at Belfast City. Over 100 private houses were similarly raided.
Arrests:- In Dublin City in the above-mentioned military raids the following were arrested without any charge being preferred: – Mr. L. Ginnell, M.P. (aged 65 and under medical treatment); Mr. P. Shanahan, M.P.; Messrs. Frank, Peter, Alfred, Andrew, and James McDonnell (brothers) ; Leo Ferns; J. O’Neill, and Frank Gallagher.
Messrs. P. Phelan, M. Carroll, J. Barron, J. Halloran and D. Kelly were arrested on “suspicion” at Carrick-on-Suir. Messrs. P. Daly, P. O’Halloran, E. Hussey, and T. O’Connor, were arrested in townlands bordering Tralee, Co. Kerry. No charge has been preferred against them.
At Thurles the following were arrested without charge :-
Messrs. T. Barry, T. Cahill, M. O’Loughlin, P. Spillane, P. Doran, M. Shanahan, and _ Delaney. At Enniskillen Mr. F. Carney, Urban District Councillor and Mr. H. McManus, farmer, were arrested. No charge. Mr. P. Fahy, Irish Language teacher of Gort, Co. Galway, was arrested without charge. Mr. J. Flynn, Vice-Chairman of the Urban District Council was arrested at Clonakilty, Co. Cork. At Fermoy in the same County, Mr. C. Power, Urban District Councillor was arrested. In neither of these cases was a charge preferred. At Belfast City Mr. M. J. Keaveney and Mr. J. O’Neill were arrested without charge. Twelve persons were arrested in the streets of Dublin o n a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m. without the permission of the British Military Authorities.
Sentence:- Mr. Alex McCabe, Member of Parliament for South Sligo was sentenced to three months imprisonment on a charge of soliciting subscriptions for the Republican Movement.
Sabotage:- In the raids above mentioned in private residences in Dublin the military raiders smashed in the doors with pick- axes and crow-bars and did wanton destruction in several houses. Miss L. Byrne, sister of Mr. Sean Byrne, T. C., arrested on Saturday, writes to the Press to state that the military during the raid on his house, looted a valuable antique bracelet
Murder:- Mr. J. McCarthy, Fianna Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, brother of Mr. Ml. McCarthy Sinn Fein Member of the Urban District Council was shot dead by police in plain clothes and with blackened faces, who burst into his house and fired upon him as soon as he had answered his name.
TUESDAY, MARCH 30th, 1920
Raids:- In many parts of Ireland there were raids upon private houses by military and police. The raids which took place at Tipperary, Clonmel, Waterford, Lorrha, Cahir, Cashel, Athlone and Clogher, numbered upwards of 200. Among the houses raided were those of Mr. P. J. Moloney, Member of Parliament for South Tipperary, Alderman P. Brazil, recently elected Sinn Fein Alderman to the Waterford Corporation and Mr. Dominick Mackey, recently elected Councillor to the Clonmel Urban Council. In the City of Dublin military raided four private residences smashing in the doors with pick-axes. Among the four houses visited was that of Mr. J. J. Walsh, Senior Member of Parliament for Cork City.
Arrests:- In the military and police raids throughout the country the following were arrested. Mr. P. J. Moloney, M.P., Tipperary town, Mr. P. Hogan, Kilfadda, Co. Tipperary, Mr. P. Phillips, Ladyswell Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ald. P. Brazil, Waterford, Mr. Sean Mathews, do., Mr. D. Mackey, T.O., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Mr. M. Mulvihill, aged 70, Athlone, Co. Meath, Mr. F. Doorish, Clogher, Mr. Ed. McGrath, Clogheen, and Mr. John A. Gogarty, Ardnagreine, all of Co. Kerry, and Mr. John Duffy of Tipperary town. No charge has been preferred against any of the above. Two persons were arrested on the streets of Dublin on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m., without the permission of the British Military Authorities.
Courtmartial:- Mr. Anthony O’Reilly of 42 Crampton Buildings, Dublin, was courtmartialled at Marlborough Barracks, Dublin, on a charge of being in possession of ammunition. The ammunition was found in a house where accused resided. He denied knowledge and possession of it. There were many others in the same house. He was found guilty. Sentence will be promulgated. Ald. W. Cosgrave, M.P., recently arrested, was deported to Wormwood Scrubbs Prison, England, without charge or trial.
Sabotage:- In four raids upon private residences in Dublin, the military broke down the doors of these houses, not giving the inmates opportunity to open them. Wanton destruction of valuable property was done inside the premises.
Murder:- Armed police in plain clothes and with blackened faces forced their way at dead of night into the residence at Bouladuff, Co. Tipperary, of Mr. T. Dwyer, prominent Sinn Feiner, and shot him dead. When Mr. Dwyer, being mortally wounded, was lying bleeding upon the floor, the leader of the police ordered his men to “give him another”. Another shot was then fired into the prone body, and Mr. Dwyer died.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31st, 1920
Raids:- Throughout the North-west of Ireland, in the Counties of Derry, Tyrone, Donegal and Antrim, a large number of raids were made by military and police on the private residences of prominent Republicans. In all over a hundred houses were forcibly entered and searched, among the number being the houses of Mr. P. J. Ward, Member of Parliament for North Donegal, and many of the recently elected Republican Members of the Urban Councils. The residence of Mrs. Bulfin of Derrinlough, King’s Co., was raided and searched by armed police. At Cloghan in the same County the residences of Messrs. Smith and Roddin were forcibly entered and searched. At Banagher the home of Mr. McNally, Secretary of the local Sinn Fein Club was broken into by police and ransacked. Police raided and searched the residence of Mr. A. Brennan, Meelick, Co. Clare. Military and police raided the residence of Mr. D. J. Sullivan, Urban Councillor, Tralee, Co. Kerry. At Loughcopple, Co. Tipperary, the residence of Mr. W. Cantwell was raided and searched for four hours. The residence occupied by Mr. J. Cawley was raided by military and police.
Arrests:- Mr. P. J. Ward, Republican Member of Parliament was arrested at his residence at Donegal. Mr. J. Sweeney, Republican Member of Parliament was Mr. J. Kavanagh was arrested at Alexandra Street, Derry. Mr. Walter Cantwell, Chairman of the East Tipperary Sinn Fein Executive was arrested at his residence in that County.
Mr. D. J. Sullivan, Chairman of the Urban Council at Tralee, Co. Kerry was arrested at his residence in that town. Mr. J. Cawley, Commercial Traveller of Granard, Co. Longford was arrested. Against none of the above men was any charge preferred Mr. J. Leyhane of Bantry, Co. Cork, was arrested on a charge of using “inflammatory language”. Three persons were arrested on the streets of Dublin on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m., without the permission of the Military Authorities.
Sentences:- Mr. J. Larkin of Ballagherty, Co. Derry, tried by district Courtmartial at Belfast on the 15th inst., on a charge of having arms in his possession, was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. Andrew Reilly of Shantimon, Ballyhaise, tried by the same court was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour for having in his possession a copy of the official organ of the Irish Volunteers. Mr. J. Coughlan, 74 Evergreen Road, Cork, tried by courtmartial on March 19th, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour for having in his possession a pistol and ten cartridges. Mr. D. Owens of Rocklawn, Cork, tried by the same court was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour for having in his possession a revolver. Mr. P. J. Vignoles, 127 Evergreen Street, Cork, was tried by the same court and was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour for having in his possession a copy of the official organ of the Irish Volunteers. Mr. J. Leyhane above mentioned was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for using inflammatory language.
Suppression:- Armed police raided and declared illegal a meeting of the Westmeath Executive of Sinn Fein, which was called to make arrangements for the coming County Council Elections.
THURSDAY, APRIL 1st, 1920
Raids:- At six a.m. armed police entered the village of Carriglea, Co. Kerry, and searched every one of the forty houses in it. Later further bodies of armed police raided over one hundred houses in the neighbouring townlands. Ten private residences were raided by military and police in Limerick city. The residence of Mr. Reddington and Mr. H. Wilson, were raided at Longford. At Clonakilty, military and police forced an entrance into the residence of Mr. S. O’Neill and searched it.
Arrests:- Messrs. J. McCloskey, M. McGrath, J. Hehir, James McNeice, Bryan O’Brien, E. Punch, J. Quilty and Robert Cashin, were arrested at Limerick City by armed military and police, and
were conveyed to an unknown destination. At Longford, Mr. Reddington and Mr. H. Wilson, officials of the local County Council, were arrested. Mr. H. Mulcahy of Dualla, Co. Tipperary, was arrested by military. Mr. S. O’Neill, Merchant, was arrested at Clonakilty, Co. Cork. No charge was brought against any of the above men. One person was arrested on the streets of Dublin, on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m. without the permission of the British Military.
Sentences:- Mr. M. Whelan, Enniscorthy, tried by courtmartial at Cork, on March 19th, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour for throwing stones at fully armed police who had arrested his brother without charge. Mr. P. Byrne, Enniscorthy, tried by the same court was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour, on a charge of being in possession of ten cartridges for a pistol. Mr. Jos. McMurray of Ferguson Street, Derry, tried by courtmartial at Derry on March 2nd, was sentenced to 42 days imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of possessing eleven cartridges and an empty Mill’s bomb case. Mr. Caldwell Hyndman, of Philip Street, Derry tried by the same court was sentenced to 84 days imprisonment with hard labour for having in his possession “a copy of number of the Official Organ of the Irish Volunteers”. Deportation:- A large number of Republican prisoners estimated at 40 were deported from Queenstown, Co. Cork, on two British destroyers, to an unknown destination.
Armed Assault:- At Gorey, Co. Wexford, police fully armed savagely set upon a gathering of civilians and dispersed them. Many men, women, and children were wounded.
SATURDAY, APRIL 3rd, 1920
Raids:- In the counties of Dublin, Cavan, Donegal, Kilkenny, Sligo, Tipperary, Armagh, Derry and Cork, large parties of military and police carried out wholesale raids. More than 300 houses were forcibly entered and searched. In the village of Durrus, Co. Cork, and within a radius of ten miles of it, military and police in a “drive” raided over 200 private houses. In the City of Dublin, military raided six private residences, including that of Mr. S. McGarry, recently elected to the Dublin Corporation. In the city of Kilkenny military and police raided seven houses including those of several of the newly elected members of the Kilkenny Corporation. Armed police raided two ships coming one into Dublin and the other into Derry. Passengers’ persons and luggage were searched.
Arrests:- Mr. Maurice Brennan of O’Connell Street, Dublin, and Mr. P. Shortall of Castlewood place, Rathmines, Dublin, were arrested. Mr. F. McKeon was arrested at Cootehill, Co. Cavan. Messrs. P. O’Keefe, John O’Byrne, Ed. Raftis, T. Barron, W. Lynch, J. McGrath (Creamery Manager) Ed. O’Gorman, District Councillor, Jas. Walsh (Chairman Sinn Fein Club), were arrested at Kilkenny City and the neighbouring districts. At Newry, Mr. P. Rankin was arrested. Mr. J. Carroll was arrested in Tipperary Town. Messrs. M. Gormly, J. Burke, M. Brennan and T. Kilcoyne were arrested at Sligo. Messrs. J. O’Leary, P. Santry and S. O’Neill were arrested at Bandon, Co. Cork. No charge was brought against any one of the above men. One person was arrested on the streets of Dublin on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m., without the permission of the British Military Authorities.
Sentences:- Messrs. J. Heslin, B. McAvinue, T. Rorke, W. Byrne, T. McGuinness, T. Reilly and T. Gallagher, all of Cavan were each sentenced to a month’s imprisonment on a charge of unlawful assembly, at a “crimes” court held at Cavan. The unlawful assembly consisted in giving a send-off to prominent Republicans arrested in the District on December 11th, 1919.
Sabotage:- In more than a score of cases during the extensive raids above mentioned the raiding military and police wantonly smashed down the doors of the raided houses and destroyed furniture and pictures inside. At Kingstown, Co. Dublin, a party of military raided the residence of Mr. T. Longmore. They remained in the house four hours and when they had left it was discovered that they had looted a gold bracelet, a long chain of fine American gold, £3 in notes and table cutlery. The troops also opened and drank a bottle of whiskey they discovered in the house.
**********
The following are the Acts of Aggression Committed in Ireland by the armed Military and Police of the Usurping English Government, as reported in the Daily Press for the Week ending SATURDAY, APRIL 10th, 1920:
The sentences passed for political offences during the above six days, totalled 1 year and 6 months.
MONDAY, APRIL 5th, 1920
Raids:- Derry police raided and searched five vessels arriving at the Port. At Dublin the luggage of 4 passengers on the Burns boat from Glasgow were examined by police. Military and police took possession of Broadstone Station, the Dublin Terminus of the Midland & Great Western Railway, and carried out a thorough search of the premises. They broke open the tool boxes on the engine plates of locomotives in the sheds. Military and police raided St. Enda’s College, Rathfarnham. St. Enda’s College for boys was founded by the late P. H. Pearse, whose mother and sister still reside on the premises. The business premises of the Irish Farm Produce Co., Henry Street, Dublin, belonging to Mrs. Wyse Power, Member of the Dublin Corporation, were broken into and searched by military. Military and police raided the house of Mrs. Leonard, Five Alley, Birr, Queen’s County and made an exhaustive search. Military and police broke into and raided a Dublin branch of the Gaelic League. Finding nothing, they arrested the caretaker and his 2 sons. The residence of Mrs. Humphries, 14 Herbert Park, Dublin was raided by police and military who also raided Mr. D. O’Leary’s house, 50 Marlborough Road. Cullenswood House, Oakley Road, Ranelagh was again raided by military. After the military evicted Mrs. Pearse, mother of P. H. Pearse who was shot by the British after the Insurrection of 1916, from St. Enda’s School, Rathfarnham, the school was temporarily transferred to Cullenswood House. Several months ago the school returned to its former location, and Cullenswood House was let in apartments to families for private residences. Notwithstanding this, the private families who now occupy the house are being constantly subjected to midnight military raids. The last raid occupied 8½ hours. In the hours of a military “drive” in Co. Mayo, police and military raided upwards of 200 houses in Ballyhaunis and the surrounding district.
Arrests:- In the raid on Cullenswood House mentioned above, Master Cecil Saltkeld, the 15 year-old son of the widow of an Indian Civil Servant, was arrested by the military raiding party. The boy’s mother produced his birth certificate, but the officer in charge said he could not accept the document as he had orders to place all men found on the premises under arrest. In the military raid on the Keating Branch of the Gaelic League at Dublin, the caretaker and his two sons were placed under arrest and removed to an unknown destination. Mr. Dick Humphries, 14, Herbert Park, Dublin, was arrested by a military raiding party. No charge was made against him.
Six persons, whose names did not transpire were arrested near Tuam by police and military. Seven persons were arrested on the streets of Dublin on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m. without the permission of the British Military Authorities. Mr. John Mitchell, Glenade, Co. Leitrim, was arrested by a military and police force, who surrounded his house in the middle of the night. No charge was made against him.
Militarism:- During the Easter Holidays, military cordons were drawn around all the principal Irish cities and towns. All persons and vehicles entering and leaving were stopped and examined. The principal roads leading to Dublin, Derry, Cork, Limerick, Newry, Thurles, Dundalk and many other towns were occupied by military and police, who threw out barriers of barbed wire entanglements. Around Dublin the points occupied by the cordon included Kingsbridge, Chapelizod, Cabra Road, Finglas, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Artane, and on the south side of the City: Merrrion, Dundrum, Sandyford, Milltown, Rathfarnham, Kimmage and Terenure. All trams were held up and passengers searched, haycarts were stopped, drivers searched and hay probed with bayonets. Old women going to Market with poultry, were stopped, and their baskets opened, the fowls escaping in some cases. Tanks, armoured cars, and machine guns assisted the military at their barricades.
Treatment of Prisoners:- When 40 uncharged and untried Irish prisoners in Mountjoy Gaol protested against their treatment as common criminals, they were attacked by warders who, after overpowering them, handcuffed them. While this was taking place a shot was fired into the cell of Mr. O’Neill.
TUESDAY, APRIL 6th, 1920
Raids:- The Republican Temperance Bar, Findlater’s Place, off O’Connell Street, Dublin, was raided by military and police. The raiding party filled four motor lorries and were accompanied by an armoured car. Nothing was found but a Sinn Fein Flag. Military raids were made on seven private houses in Belfast. The male occupants were arrested in every case. The Grocery and Provision Store of Messrs. W. Magee & Co., Rathmines, Dublin, were raided and searched by military. At Newry, Co. Down, police and military raided upwards of ten private houses. The residence of Mr. J. Murphy, Chairman of the Enniscorthy Urban Council, was raided by police. Police raided the house of Mr. James Ryan, Sawmill-owner, Bridge Street, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. Military raided the premises of the Misses Sharkey in the same town, and seized “The Life of St. Liguori” in Irish together with some National Newspapers. The house of Mrs. Clare, Glasslough Street, Monaghan, was fruitlessly raided by armed police, for the third time within a month. The premises of Mr. Patrick Macklin, Member of the Monaghan Urban Council, was raided by armed police who dismantled his motor car and informed him that they would take possession of it.
Arrests:- Mr. Sean O’Carroll, Proprietor of the Republican Temperance Bar, Dublin, was arrested by military who raided his premises. The following customers found on the premises at the time of the raid (5 p.m.) were also arrested Messrs. R. Gahan, P. McLoughlin, N. Keane, J. McGrath, J. Ryder. No charge was made against them. The following were arrested at Belfast by military and police who raided their homes :- Messrs. Edward Hayes, Antrim Road; Francis McCurry, Cullintree Road; Peter Byrne, Linden Street; William Gaynor, Springfield Road; Charles Larkin, Cupar Street; James Bryson, Clondara Street, and Francis O’Grady, Alloa Street, Clifden Park Avenue. They were lodged in Crumlin Road Prison although no charge had been brought against them. Mr. King, Solicitor, of Newcastle, Co. Down, was arrested by military and police who preferred no charge. At Newry, Co. Down, police and military arrested Messrs. P. Lavery, Sinn Fein member of Newry Urban Council; Mathew Gray, Peter O’Rourke, Francis J. Kinney, Dominick Fitzpatrick Peter Kane, Pat O’Rourke and Peter O’Rourke. Messrs. Thomas Clifford, Thomas Slattery, John and Edward Greaney were arrested at Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry, whither they had gone on a motoring trip. One person was arrested on the streets of Dublin on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m., without the permission of the British Military Authorities.
Armed Assault:- During the military raid on the Republican Temperance Bar, Dublin, a crowd which had collected was fired on by the
military whilst the raid was in progress. They covered all passersby with their rifles, while the machine- guns on the lorries were trained on the crowd. Some bayonet wounds were received by innocent pedestrians and several women and children hurt in the stampede which ensued.
Militarism:- British cruisers and destroyers are patrolling the North, West, South-east, and east of Ireland. Warships are patrolling the Donegal Coast. In Athlone, Military are under arms in the public square. An armoured car is mounted on the town bridge, which is already in possession of a military guard. Barbed wire entanglements cut off access to or from the town and all townsfolk are subjected to strict examination before being allowed to pass.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7th, 1920
Raids:- Armed police raided the Belfast Museum and took away all the German arms and war trophies presented to the City by the military authorities. The shop and dwelling house of Mr. D. Fraher, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, were raided by police and military. Police and military searched the houses of the following who reside near Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan:- Messrs. A. Carville, B. Laverty, P. Loughran, J. Devine, L O’Neill, and Mrs. F. A. Carville. Police raided two private houses in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Arrests:- Messrs. D. Brady and J. Jones of Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh were arrested by police and military. Messrs. W. Murray and P. Tormey were arrested at Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Sentences:- Alderman Murray, recently elected Sinn Fein Alderman of the Cork Corporation, after being in Gaol for eleven months without trial, was charged at Dublin Commission with shooting at a policeman in Cork on the night of the 30th March, 1919. The Constable who brought the charge said that a man whom he subsequently identified as Mr. Murray, shot at him on the street at 2-30 a.m. and then ran way. Ald. Murray, who refused to recognise the Court stated to the public that he had been deliberately perjured by the Crown witnesses. To prove his innocence he could produce credible witnesses, including a priest, a doctor, a chemist and his brother. Impartial witnesses proved that at the time of the occurrence Ald. Murray could not walk, much less run, as he was suffering from and was being medically treated for a wrenched kneecap. Furthermore, the constable admitted in his evidence that his accusation was solely based on the fact that Mr. Murray, whom he had not seen or known previous to and for some time after the occurrence, looked very like the man who shot at him. As the Jury could not agree in convicting him, Mr. Murray was put back for trial by the next Commission. During his incarceration Mr. Murray was elected Senior Alderman in the Cork Corporation, and at the first meeting of that body a vote of sympathy was passed with him.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8th, 1920
Raids:- In a search for ammunition, Police raided a graveyard at Doon, Eyrecourt, and dug up a freshly-made grave. Nothing was found but a coffin. In the course of a military and police “drive” in Co. Meath, upwards of 20 private houses were raided. Military and police raided upwards of 100 private houses in and around Maryboro’, Queen’s Co. Military and police raided the houses of Mr. D. Fogarty and M. Donaghue, Drominagh, Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary. At Limerick Junction, police and military raided the house of Mrs. Mary Frewen, and dug up her garden. Mr. A. Hamill’s office in Monaghan, was raided by police and military who tore up the floors.
Arrests:- Five persons were arrested on the streets of Dublin on a charge of being “abroad” between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a m. without the permission of the British Military Authorities. In the course of military and police raids throughout the County Meath, the following were arrested:- Messrs. Frank O’Higgins, Kells, Leo McKenna, Patrick Clinch and Frank Loughran (aged 18) Navan; and J. Mangan, Bective. Mr. P. Gilsenan, Killallon, Westmeath, was also arrested. Messrs. D. Fogarty and M. Donohue, Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary, were arrested and conveyed to Limerick Prison. Mr. Fogarty is a nephew of Most Rev. Dr. Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe. Mr. E. Lynch, Manger of the Co-operative Society’s Store, Maryboro’, Queen’s Co, and Mr. M. Gray, 87 Main St. were arrested by police and military. In an adjacent district two men named Connolly and McEvoy were arrested at their homes. No charge was made against any of the foregoing. At Monaghan, Mr. P. Marron, an Official of the Co. Council was arrested by the military on an unknown charge. Mr. D. Cahill, High Street, Killarney, was arrested by police and military. No charge was stated. 18 men were arrested in Athlone district on a charge of illegal assembly.
Treatment of Prisoners:- Alderman Kelly, M.P., Lord Mayor of Dublin, who was conditionally released from Wormwood Scrubbs Prison in broken health, has had a severe relapse and there is grave anxiety concerning his recovery. His medical attendant states that his recovery can only be effected by his return to Ireland. This the Prison Authorities will not allow.
FRIDAY, APRIL 9th; 1920
Raids:- Military and police raided upwards of 200 houses in and around Roskeen, Co. Tipperary. The residence of Mrs. Seumas O’Doherty, Connaught Street, Dublin, was raided by military and police who surrounded the house. The only occupants at the time were Mrs. O’Doherty and her three young children, two of whom were ill. In spite of her protests and assurances that “there were no men in the house” the military occupied it for two hours, tramping around and ransacking everywhere. The search was carried out with great brutality and disregard for the circumstances. Military searched Mr. Comerford’s flour mills at Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow. Nothing was discovered. Police raided the residences of Mr. Brophy, Walkin St., and Mr. Michael Ryan, Bishop’s Hill, Kilkenny. The house Mr. Nesbitt, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, was raided by military who seized and carried off a pistol of an obsolete pattern, which had been regarded as a souvenir. Police and military raided Cloghan Hall, Birr, while a dance was in progress. In the same neighbourhood the houses of Mrs. Brazil and Mr. T. Smyth were forcibly entered and raided by military. Police raided two private houses in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
Arrests:- Three brothers named Morrissey, in Clashmore, Waterford, were arrested by military and police. No charge was made against them. Messrs. Thomas Cassidy, Aughanna, and Owen Green Mullaghdun, Co. Fermanagh, were arrested by police and military who brought no charge against them. Two young men named Jones, and Donald Brady, were arrested after returning from a football match at Clones, Co. Monaghan. Police and military arrested Messrs. Patrick and Wm. Grogan at a dance which was being held in the Cloghan Hall, Cloghan, King’s Co. Messrs. Bernard Conlon, and Arthur Campbell, members of Moy (Armagh) Pipers’ Band, were arrested by police on a charge of parading the Band on Saint Patrick’s Day, without the permission of the police and military authorities.
Militarism:- Two hundred and eighty men of a machine-gun corps landed at Dublin yesterday and entrained for Cork. Treatment of Prisoners:- Eighty Irishmen are at present on hunger-strike in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin. This is the fifth day of the hunger-strike and many are in a collapsed condition. All the men are very weak and grave fears are entertained for the lives of three who are known to be suffering from heart trouble. Those of the prisoners who are undergoing sentence demand the treatment due to them as political prisoners, while the others, against whom no charge has been brought, demand that they shall either be released or interned as prisoners of war. Three members of Parliament, Mr. Thomas Hunter, Mr. Philip Shanahan, and Mr. McCabe, and a number of Aldermen and Town Councillors are among the hunger-strikers. Sabotage:- Mr. Frank Foy, 33 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, states that after the recent military raid on his premises, he missed the following articles, amounting in all to the value of £18:- a Donegan Watch, a Silver Chain, £4-10-0 in cash, eleven bottles of whiskey, five packets of cigarettes and one packet of tobacco.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10th, 1920
Raids:- Police and military raided upwards of 100 houses in and adjacent to Newport, Co. Tipperary. At Dublin, military and police raided the houses of Mr. Goggin, Gardiner’s Grove; Mr. Phelan, Wexford St., and also 14 a, Wexford Street (See Sabotage). Fourteen private houses at Creemoree, Co. Waterford, have been raided by police and military. At Kilkenny, military and police raided the residences of Mr. T. Treacy, T.C., Mr. J. Lalor, Mr. T. Nolan, and Mr. Michael Loughnan. Six private houses at Limerick, including those of Messrs. O’Connor, O’Sullivan, and O’Halloran, were raided by police and military. At Mullinabreena, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, military and police raided the houses of Messrs. T. Kilcoyne, J. Burke, Ml. Brennan and M. Gormley. Military and police raided the house of Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald, M.P., at Sandyford, Co. Dublin.
Arrests:- Mr. J. J. Goggin, over 80 years of age was at 1 a.m., arrested by a military raiding party who forcibly entered his home in Gardiner’s Grove, near the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Military and police arrested Messrs. T. Treacy, Member of the Kilkenny Corporation, J. Lalor, Thos. Nolan and Ml. Loughnan. No charge was preferred against them. Messrs. R. P. O’Connor, Liam O’Sullivan and Patrick O’Halloran were arrested at Limerick and conveyed to Cork Gaol. Messrs. Owen English and Jas. Morgan, Navan, Co. Westmeath, were arrested by police and military who made no charge against them. Mr. J. Murphy, Sinn Fein Organiser, was arrested at Bantry, Co. Cork. Four young men named Thos. Kilcoyne, John Burke, Ml. Brennan and Michael Gormley of Mullinabreena, Co. Sligo, were arrested by police and military on a charge of endeavouring to obtain arms. Sentences:- Mr. Timothy Duggan, Jnr., Roshill, was sentenced by courtmartial at Galway to 90 days imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of having a fowling-piece in his possession. Mr. J. Gannon was sentenced at Wexford to six months’ imprisonment on a charge of having “seditious” literature in his possession. Mr. J. Jackson, of Dublin, was sentenced at Liverpool to 9 months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of endeavouring to obtain arms.
**********
While continuing our series on events of 1920 with the help of the daily newspaper of the First Dáil, the Irish Bulletin, we are reducing the amount printed to just one week per month as reproducing the full monthly collection of the weekly summaries is taking up too much space at the expense of other items in The Irish Political Review. Instead, we will be making available each month more of the weekly summaries of events for that month, as well as all the previous instalments which have appeared in this magazine, on our dedicated Facebook page: @FrankGallagher1919
It should be noted that these weekly summaries are not by any means the full content of the Irish Bulletin which also contains daily accounts of all significant developments in the war and not just these specific events.
TODO: add the posts from the Frank Gallagher fb page when they posted there
