Echo of Ballina Bombing
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(Ballina Herald,
June 15, 1922)
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At
Ballina Quarter Sessions on Monday, before his Honor, Co. Court Judge Doyle,
Mr. J. E. Mitchell applied for £197 3s 8d compensation for malicious injury to
his premises on the night of the 11th December, 1921.
Mr.
Carson, B.L., instructed by Mr. P.
J. Mulligan, appeared for the applicant.
Mr. P.
J. Walshe, B.E., deposed that he inspected the premises soon after the injury.
The place presented a shattered appearance. There was a lot of glass broken in
the windows, and the moulding of the windows was cracked and injured. The
plaster walls were shaken, and one of the walls was absolutely separated from
the main building. His nearest estimate of the amount necessary to make good
the damage was £187 3s 8d.
Mrs.
Mitchell, wife of the applicant, deposed that on the night of the injury
there was a tremendous explosion, which shook all Ballina. The windows of the
house were all broken. The plaster was knocked down in the rooms, and one of
the walls was split.
His Honor awarded £107 compensation and £6 6s
expenses, to be levied over the county at large.
When the decrees came up for review at the
conclusion of the Sessions on Tuesday morning, Mr. Carrigg said he had since
been instructed on behalf of the Ballina Urban Council to appear in opposition
to this claim.
His Honor—This is a typical case, and that is
the reason I kept it open to the last.
Mr. Carrigg said the notice served on them
stated that the claim would be heard on Monday, but it was too late when they
received this notice to make full arrangements for a defence.
His Honor—I wished it to be understood that
although I would hear it on Monday I would keep it open until today for the
purpose of hearing any such application as you are now making.
Mr. Carrigg—I would ask your lordship to
allow it to stand adjourned. I w2ould not go on with it now, because I
understand portion of the claim is in reference to some structural damage to
the house, and in my opinion it would be
necessary for the council’s engineer to examine the house.
Mr. Mulligan said the Council had ample
noticed to come in here to defend the case at 11 o’clock on Monday morning if
they wished to do so. Their engineer and their solicitor lived in the town. If
his lordship allowed every case to be reheard because an application came in at
the eleventh hour he would have no finality.
His Honor—Things are yet in a somewhat
abnormal state, and I distinctly committed myself to this – that where I
thought any of the council might change in circumstances, I would not bind them
by an abstention policy, and so I deliberately said that up to the very last
moment I would entertain – and I wouldn’t say I would necessarily grant – any
reasonable application with reference to it, and I invited the Councils to make
any application they thought necessary. I am rather pleased that the Council
should come in and make this application. The application is now, I understand,
that they had neglected to take an active part in resisting this claim, and
they are not in a position to do so today.
Mr. Carrigg—Yes, my lord; I could not go on
in the interests of the Council today.
His Honor said that if Mr. Carrigg wished he
could take the case later that day, and that would give him an opportunity of
preparing his defence in the meantime.
Mr. Carrigg—I don’t want to take any unreasonable
step either. If you were to hear it later on you would be hearing it in the
absence of Mr. Carson.
His Honor—Do you suggest that it does not
come within the statute?
Mr. Carrigg—I think there is a very good
defence in law, and if your lordship holds against the Council with regard to
the law there is a question of the figures. There is also another point—that
although this occurrence happened on the 11th December notice was
not served until the 21st March.
Mr. Mulligan replied that the preliminary
notice was served last year in January, and pointed out that his lordship had
in any event power to extend the time for service of this notice.
His Honor said he would like to hear the
grounds on which it was suggested he should extend the time within which notice
should be served. Of course, he had not adhered very rigidly to that condition
but he invited discussion on it. This case did raise a very delicate question,
as he had indicated on the previous day. If this thing happened accidentally
did it come before them as a malicious injury to property by reason of the fact
that Mr. Carson submitted that nobody had a right to be carrying bombs about?
If a person were contravening the law by carrying bombs and one of them
accidentally exploded, did the initial illegality of his having bombs import
malice into the accidentally discharge of the bomb?
Mr. Carrigg—The police force at the time in
Ireland, and the member of that force could have been carrying bombs, and one
of these might have accidentally exploded. They would have been people who were
carrying bomb because they ran no legal tender.
His Honor—I think I should in justice to both
sides, and in the interests of the administration of the law adjourn this
application to the next Sessions, leaving everything open. As to the question
of value, I must say that I was rather struck by the moderate estimate Mr.
Walshe made.
The application was then adjourned to the next
Sessions.
Attack on Ballina
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(Ballina Herald,
November 30, 1922)
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On
Saturday night or rather in the early hours of Sunday morning (25/26 Nov.),
another attack was launched on the positions of the National troops in Ballina.
The outburst of firing, which started about 12.30 a.m., lasted with unabated
intensity for about two and half hours, during which time, is one is to judge
by the continuous rattle of rifle and machine gun fire, thousands of rounds
must have been discharged in addition to several bombs. From trace of bullet
marks on several houses it is evident the Irregulars came very close to the
National positions, but evidently when an armoured car set out to locate them
they were forced to retreat. Notwithstanding all the firing it is not know that
any person was injured, but unfortunately for the owner of two bullocks, the
property of Mr. Murray, the Brook, lost their lives, one being killed outright
and the other so seriously wounded that it had to be destroyed. Some day the
attack was launched with the hope that it would ease the pressure on other
parts of Mayo, and others that it was only a cover for the transport of
irregulars as reinforcements to those engaged in other parts of the county.
However those statements must be taken for what they are worth, but one thing
certain is that the continuous fire prevented many from enjoying a night’s
rest. Still the people are thankful that nothing more serious happened.
=====================================
Another Attack on Ballina
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(From the files
of the Ballina Herald, 29th March, 1923)
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On
Friday night, about 11 o’clock, a fierce attack was opened on the military
posts in Ballina. From the fire it would appear that the attackers had taken up
positions on all vantage points around the town. The Post Office, Workhouse,
Courthouse and Railway Station posts were subjected to a heavy fire, and the
garrison vigorously replied. The duel continued with great ferocity for about
an hour, but when the military came out and patrolled the streets with a car,
the firing died down and quiet was soon restored. As far
as is known there were no casualties.
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CURFEW
The Curfew regulations
have been changed in Ballina. Heretofore people were required to be indoors
between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Now the hours are from 11 p.m. to 6
a.m. This is a welcome concession to many.
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BALLYCASTLE POST OFFICE BURNED
On Tuesday night a party of armed men raided
Ballycastle Post office, and after having removed everything of any use, they
sprinkled the place with petrol and burned it out.
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POST OFFICES RAIDED
On
last night week (21st) all the Post Offices between Ballina and
Dromore West were visited by armed men, who seized and varied off all
Government property they could lay their hands on. Amongst the offices visited
were Enniscrone, Rathlea, Easkey and Dromore West. Stamps, postal orders, money
and office fittings were carried away, but the total value was not obtainable.
As a result of the raids, all business except postal has been discontinued at
the offices. This means that the public will have to travel to Ballina for
money orders, postal orders and old age pensions. The inconvenience of payment
of old age pensions will be keenly felt by old people, particularly those who
have no way of travelling or no friend to take it to them.
On
Sunday night Killala and Ballysokeery Post Offices were also raided. In Killala
all stamps, orders, etc., were removed and all letters taken out and burned.
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STEAM LAUNCH FIRED ON
On last
Sunday the Quay (Ballina) steam launch proceeded to the wrecked schooner at
Enniscrone with persons concerned with the salvage on board. On its return
journey the occupants, which included two soldiers, had a trying experience and
what may be called a miraculous escape. As the boat was passing Castleconnor
fire was opened on her, and her sides pierced with bullets. Some of the bullets
passed between the occupants, but fortunately no person was hurt. In all, about
twenty shots were fired.
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KILLALA TRAIN DESTROYED
For the past few days the Midland employees
have been busily engaged in salvaging the engine which was run into the sea
when the Killala train was wrecked. They succeeded in their work, but on the
night of the day on which they completed the job the sleepers on which part of
the engine rested were set on fire., and part of the engine again ran into the
sea. It is said that further salvage is now impossible.
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