BATTLE OF THE STANDARD
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ASHE ANNIVERSARY SCENE
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(Western People, October 3, 1918)
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Accounts are to the row vary, but from what we can glean it appears that about 1.30 o’clock a bugle sounded outside the Sinn Fein Hall in King Street and immediately a number of boys, said to be Sinn Fein Boy Scouts, formed up two deep.
Head Constable Dwyer and Constable Casserley happened to be in the vicinity, and they approached the boys, who had a black banner, on two poles. Before the police got on the scene the order was given, “right turn,” “quick march”. The procession then went on very quickly, followed by the Head Constable, who headed it off at the Post Office corner. The flag—which bore the inscription “Remember Thomas Ashe,” and on the reverse side a portrait of Thomas Ashe, was attempted by Head Constable Dwyer and some police to seize the flag.
A struggle ensued for its possession with the result that the pole on which the flag was carried remained in the possession of the police, while the flag itself was torn off and kept by one of the boys. Patrick Farrell, who is said to have been prominent in the tussle for the flag, was asked his name by the Head Constable and he replied in Irish. He was then taken into custody, and an excited crowd followed the prisoner to the barracks.
Amongst the crowd was the boy Walsh, who is also alleged to have been prominent in the procession, which was reformed, and the flag evidently remounted on fresh poles. Close to the barracks Walsh was taken into custody. The route of the reformed procession was down Knox Street and opposite the Imperial Hotel was met by District Inspector Sheehy, who dismounted off his bicycle, and in attempting to seize the flag and in the ensuing struggle was knocked down and assaulted, it is alleged, by the boy Donnelly, who at once was taken into custody.
A general struggle ensued in which participants—police and civilians—were completely mixed up and men and boys were falling with, what one might almost call, precision. The thing then looked ugly and the police were forced to draw their batons who used them freely on the crowd, which was then speedily dispersed.
The boy McHale was rather badly cut on the back of the head, but eventually the police secured the flag. They arrested a young man named Michael Tolan, who was subsequently released. Also arrested was John McHale.
When the excitement of the scene was over, many open remarks were passed by persons who had no sympathy with the demonstrators, that dealing with a lot of boys, as these were, they could have been easily scattered without recourse to a baton charge.
• Another arrest took place on Thursday when a young man named Andrew Merrick was taken into custody.
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A follow-up to this court case took place at the Ballina Courthouse the following week
Ashe Anniversary Scenes in Ballina
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FIVE DEFENDANTS REMANDED
AND ALLOWED OUT OF JAIL
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(Western People. October 12, 1918)
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A sequel to the scenes in Ballina on Sunday week, when boys engaged in celebrating the Ashe anniversary came into collision with the police, was furnished on Saturday evening when, at a special court presided over by Major Pomeroy Colley, R.M., Patrick Farrell, Hill Street; James Walsh, Bridge Street; Stephen Donnelly, Workhouse Row; John McHale, Francis Street, (all of whom had been detained in custody at the barrack during the week, and a young man named Anthony Merrick (arrested on Thursday) were charged that they “did at Ballina, in the Co. of Mayo, on 23rd September, 1918, with divers other evilly-disposed persons, to the number of three or more, take part in an unlawful assembly, to wit, by taking part in an unlawful procession which marched in military formation, and in which a black flag was carried, to the disturbance of the public peace and the contempt of our Lord, the King and his laws”.
D. I. Sheehy prosecuted.
An information made by Head Constable Dwyer stated that he was on duty in Knox Street on Sunday, 29th ult., at about 1.30 p.m. He heard a bugle sound at the Sinn Fein Hall in King Street. He saw a number of boys formed up in two-deep formation on the street in front of the hall. He saw a black flag taken from the door leading from the hall and given to the boys, who were formed on the street. Immediately this was done the boys turned to the right and marched up King Street towards the Post Office. The black flag was carried by two boys leading the procession. James Walsh marched at the head of the procession. When they reached the
Post Office the command was given – “Right wheel!”—apparently by Walsh. On seeing the flag bore the words—“Remember Ashe,” and also bore what appeared to be a picture of Ashe, witness stopped them and caught hold of the flag with a view to seizing it. He was assisted by Const. Casserley.
A number of the boys caught hold of the flag and poles upon which it was mounted and a struggle ensued for the flag.. One of the poles was broken; this he retained while the boys got away with the flag. Patrick Farrell took a prominent part in resisting the seizure of the flag, and he subsequently arrested him and also James Walsh. About twenty minutes later he saw the head of a procession reach the Imperial Hotel corner, Knox Street. He saw D.I. Sheehy approach those leading the procession and try to seize the flag which they carried. A struggle ensued for the flag. When witness reached Knox Street there were a number of people there. From information received, he believed that in the struggle for the flag the District Inspector was knocked down and assaulted, and that Stephen Donnelly and John McHale were members of the assembly who carried the flag in question, as well as Anthony Merrick. He prayed that a warrant might issue for their arrest.
D. I. Sheehy—That is true as far as it goes.
Witness—Yes.
Mr. H. C. Bourke, solr., who arrived in court at this point, was asked by the Chairman if he appeared for any of the defendants, and replied that he was consulted on behalf of them, but he had only a formal application to make.
The defendants were individually asked if they wanted to cross-examine the Head Constable and all replied in the negative.
Const. Casserley deposed to the struggle in Knox Street between the police and boys for the flag and also as to Merrick’s arrest.
Cross-examined by Farrell—You arrested me for not giving my name in English?—Yes.
If I had given my name in English you would not have arrested me?—That is another question.
Head Constable Dwyer—It was I who arrested him.
Witness (to Farrell)—You are not mentioned in my deposition.
Const. Nangle, who was next called, said he also was on duty about two o’clock. As he turned the corner of the Imperial Hotel he saw a crowd of boys, about fifteen or sixteen. They were carrying a flag and were followed by a large of about 50 persons. He saw D. I. Sheehy attempting to seize the flag. At once a general melee ensued, and in the course of the struggle he saw the D.I. knocked down. He saw Stephen Donnelly assault D. I. Sheehy by striking him with the flag staff. Witness then arrested him. He also saw John McHale in the crowd.
None of the defendants had any questions to ask.
D. I. Sheehy said that was the evidence he would offer, and asked to have the five defendants remanded till Tuesday next. If they gave bail he was satisfied to have them let out in the meantime.
Chairman—All the defendants are remanded till Tuesday, 15th inst.
Mr. Bourke said that bail would be given.
D. I. Sheehy (indicating Messrs. Bernard Egan and John Ruttledge) said there were gentlemen there substantial enough prepared to give bail.
Chairman—They look substantial (laughter).
Bail was fixed at £20, with two sureties of £10 each, and after the bonds were signed the defendants were released.
(Thomas Ashe was born in Co. Kerry, and was a school-teacher. He took part in the Easter Rising, and was captured and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was in Lewes Gaol, England, until August, 1917, when he was transferred to Mountjoy Gaol. He died of heart and lung failure on September 25th, 1917, in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, only hours after being transferred from Mountjoy Gaol where he had been on hunger-strike and had endured force-feeding. He composed “Let Me Carry Your Cross for Ireland, Lord!”)
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