THE SHOOTING OF SHEEHY SKEFFINGTON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2859, 25 August 1916, Page 5

THE SHOOTING OF SHEEHY SKEFFINGTON

OFFICIAL INQUIRY OPENS. Austtalian-Xow Zealand Cable Association. ,(Rcc. August 24, 7.10 p.m.) : London, August 23. Th« inquiry into the Bhooting of Skeflingtou, Macintyrc, and Dickson; during tho rovolt iii Dublin, has opened in Dublin: Lioutenant Morris testified that an excited crowd followed . Skoffington, and ho arrested him as a precautionary measure". • ■

Lieutenant Wilson stated ;that when Skeffing'tQn was brought to tho .barracks his hands were tied behind his back.'..- Captain Colthurst fired several shots in the air over the crowd, and then shot a boy named Corde, who was" running away: after, giving an insulting answer to Colihurst's questions. Colthurst .meant to shoot the boy,in tho legs, but shot him in tho abdomen. Lieutenant Wilson said he had, not mentioned, tie Corde incident; at- the, court-martial, because he was ,not"asked.. '.", ■ ' -' ."• ;; : '

Sergeant Aldridgo gave evldeiice!that he.accompanied seven men on the morning i of," the shooting. Captain Colthurst gave the directions to'fire. Tho men were.. neither blihafolded libr pinioned, and were, given no time._ to say their prayers. He did not'think that) they knew they were going ' to their death. No one made' any pro-. test. '.'.'. "".'■'',.;.•

The Attorney-General (Sir. F. EV Smith), in opening the case, said that Colthuret ordered his men to remove their hats, and then delivered a short prayer in Skeffington's presence: "Oh, Lord Godl If it please Thee to take away the life of this man, forgive Mm;" ,

Ho then ordered tho men out to be shot.' .