A Terrible Ordeal

A Terrible Ordeal

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TAKEN OUT TO BE SHOT

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Ballina Herald, October 20, 1921

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  At the Ballina Quarter Sessions on Wednesday, Bernard Hanley, Knox Street, Ballina, applied for £1,000 compensation for personal injuries.

  Mr. McCarthy, B.L. (instructed by Mr. Mulligan), appeared for defendant.

  Applicant stated that on the night of 12^th May he was in bed when at about 12 o’clock a number of men in khaki came into the house. They were dressed like Auxiliaries, and were armed. They came into his room and caught him by the hair of the head, pulled him out of bed, and called him ugly names. They brought him out on the landing, where other men who were in the house were standing with their hands up. They then ordered him to put on his clothes, which he did, and they asked him to tell them where a young man named Sheerin was—“one of my murdering men.” Witness said he did not know. They said he would have to tell them, or that they would shoot him like he shot Sergt. Armstrong. After searching the house they took him outside and asked him to go down on his knees in the mud. He asked them for what reason, and one of them said, “to shoot you.” Witness said he would not go on his hands and knees, that he could be shot standing up. He was then knocked down by a punch of a rifle. When he was down they caught him by the scarf and dragged him towards the barrack. They dragged him as far as the barrack yard, where they continued to beat him until he became unconscious.

  He remembered nothing more until he found a man dragging him up against the gable of the barrack. He then heard one of them say—“He is dead, the ------------.” One of them then suggested to throw him into the river. After a time they saw he was still alive, and one of them said: “Will you tell now where Sheerin is?” and witness said he did not know. They then twisted his arm and dislocated some of the bones. He was then searched and robbed of £34. Dr. Sweeney afterwards attended him, and was attending him still. He was not able to do any work for three months. His memory was also affected.

  Dr. Sweeney was examined, and deposed that on the 13^th May he examined the applicant. He complained of pains in his back. His face was much disfigured, and he was suffering from shock. He was suffering from concussion of the spine. His right arm was swollen, three bones in his wrist were dislocated, both eyes were black, and the right eye was completely closed and lacerated on the inner angle. His nose and lips were swollen. The upper lip was lacerated and cut through. The left jaw was bruised and swollen and caused him much pain. He was bruised at the back of the chest and the lower dorsal. There was a great tenderness of the buttock muscles. He was unable to stand erect.

  He was still under witness’s care and was complaining of shooting pains down the legs. Applicant was permanently partially incapacitated. That morning applicant complained of pains and the muscles of his back were still bad. He could not concentrate his mind on anything for any length of time, and he suffered from giddiness. He was a fine specimen of manhood before. He got stooped and wasted since. Witness’s fee amounted to 26 guineas.

  His Honour awarded £850 compensation.