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BATTLE OF THE STANDARD
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ASHE ANNIVERSARY SCENE
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(Western People, October
3, 1918)
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SCENE of intense excitement and disorder,
fortunately, of short duration, disturbed the quiet of Sunday afternoon in
Ballina, and as a result four young boys of the town, namely, Patrick Farrell,
Hill Street; James Walsh, Bridge Street; Stephen Donnelly, Upper Piper Hill,
and John McHale, Francis Street, are in Ballina Barracks awaiting instructions
from the competent authority as to their disposal. 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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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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