Ballina Men Courtmartialled

BALLINA MEN TRIED BY COURTMARTIAL

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PRISONER PROTESTS INNOCENCE

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(Western People, May 5, 1921)

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  At a F.G.C.M. at Renmore Barracks, Galway, Thomas Jordan, cattle dealer, Ardnaree, and William Leydon, shop assistant, formerly employed in Messrs. Shanley Brothers, Knox Street, Ballina, were found guilty of carrying firearms. On a second charge of entering a dwelling house at Ballina on November 23^rd, 1921, a witness said that seven disguised men, wearing handkerchiefs over their faces, came to a certain house at 10.15 p.m. Four of the men entered the house and one shouted “hands up.” They were rushed by the party in the house, and the handkerchief pulled off one man’s face. Each of the four had something in his hand. They were pursued but made their escape.

  Another witness swore they burst a door in. The witness’s brother pulled the mask off one of them, and said: “I know you, Jordan.! Witness recognised that man as Leydon. He recognised Jordan when his name was shouted.

  For the defence a witness swore that Jordan was with him at Mrs. Laing’s public house from 9.30 o’clock. Leydon said that were it not for the fact that he refused to recognise the authority of the court he could get eight witnesses to prove his innocence.

SENTENCED

  The following was the decision of the courtmartial: One year with hard labour imposed on Thomas Jordan and William Leydon, Ballina, for being identified as taking part in a raid on a house.

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CURFEW LIFTED

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(Ballina Herald, May 19, 1921)

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  The people of the town were right glad to hear on Sunday morning (15^th) that the Curfew

Hour had been extended to 10 o’clock p.m. having to be indoors at 8 o’clock, after long, “weary waiting for the May,” was not a very pleasant prospect, but people can now take their “constitutional” with fear of a “joy ride.” It is to be hoped that the next concession will be the removal of the ban on the fairs and markets.

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MORE CLAIMS

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(Ballina Herald, May 19, 1921)

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  Notice of the following claims has been served on the Ballina District Council:-

A GARDEN STREET APPLICANT

  Peter Hoey, jnr., Garden Street, Ballina, claims £500 for being maimed or ill-treated in his person at Garden Street, Ballina, on 7^th April, 1921, said maiming or ill-treatment arising out an unlawful association on assembly.

FENCES KNOCKED DOWN

  Thomas Kelly, herd; John Gallagher, Behy, Moygownagh; James Lynnott, Knockranny, Moygownagh; John Cawley, Ballyglass, farmers, and the C.D.B., are claiming £150 for the malicious knocking down of 276 yards of stone wall, two sod fences, and the removal of four lines of barbed wire and two gate pillars, on the 30^th April.

THRESHING MACHINE AND PLOUGH DESTROYED

  Julia McHale, Cooneal, Ballysokeery, claims £50 for a threshing machine and plough wantonly and maliciously broken and destroyed on 7^th March on the lands of Cooneal.

WOMAN BEATEN

   Kate McGuire, of Dooyork, Bangor Erris, claims £150 for being dragged out of the house of a neighbour along the road and beaten, kick, maimed and maliciously injured by a number of masked men on the 25^th December, 1920, said injury resulting from unlawful association or assembly.