IRELAND-PARTY RIOTS.

Evening Post, Issue 95, 30 May 1865, Page 3

IRELAND-PARTY RIOTS.

\A» -4*Vj ftaroh Assizes for the Crfunty Down, Ddward O'Harn, John nilliard, and John M'Evoy, were indicted for riot at Rathfriland, before Chief Justice Monahan. THe following report is copied from the Dublin Evening Mail ".— • Sir Thomas Staples, Q C, and Mr. M'Donnell, QC, prosecuted. Mr. Hamill appeared for the accused. Wallace Ratcliffe, a very intelligent youth, deposed that on the day in question there were races at Rathfriland. There were two parties present at the races — Roman Catholics and Protestants. Heard two of the prisoners when coming home shout, "To h— l with all the Orangemen of Rathfriland." Saw O'Hare throw a lump of mortar at the Protestant party. Mr. Hamill : You were up here for walking in procession yourself ? Witness : I was, sir, and I don't deny it (laughter). His Lordship ; When were you up here for being in a procession ? Witness : About three years ago. His Lordship : I hope you won't take part in a procession again ? The witness gave no answer, and was about to leave the box, but was recalled by his lordship. His Lordship : I ask you again, do you intend taking further part in these processions ? Witness (after considerable hesitation) : No, sir, I do not. Mr. Hamill : It is no wonder that our country is as it is. Is it one side only that should be in that dock ? His Lordship : Certainly, both should be there. (To Capt. O'Donel, R.M. for Down) : Why did you not return both parties ? Capt. O'Donel : There was only oae p arty brought before us. His Lordship : I shall consider it my duty to report this case. Captain O'Donel said he had only been at the investigation on the last day, and then the magistrates present were unanimous as to sending the cases for trial. His Lordship : You should have acted on your own responsibility, and you should have seen what you were doing. John O'Hara, father of one of the prisoners, was examined for the defence. He said when lie was leaving Rathfriland there were about 50 Protestants collected at one door in the street. His Lordship : Protestants. Protes'ants I Witness : One man was firinjr shots. Bis Lordship : Do you mean firing guns ? Mr. Hamill : Yes my lord. To Sir Thomas Staples : My son was beaten and Struck with a stone, from which he has not yet properly recovered, Mr. Hamill : Old you tell that to the magistrates at the time ? Witnes : I did ; bat the magistrates don't want to hear any but the one side of a case. His Lordship : It is very like it, upon my word. Mr. Hamill ; I declare, I think, my lord, I should stop the case to the castle. His Lordship : I hope the government will feel it necessary to institute an inquiry into this case. I will do what I can to induce them to do so. His Lordship, in charging the jury, said they had now heard the whole case, and he must say that he was very much disgusted with the way in which justice was administered in the county of Down. Both parties iihould have been arrested, and there should have been an investigation. Certainly, those who used guns should have been found out and put on their trial. The charge against the men in thf» dock was that they were guilty of an illegal assembly, and were present as rioters. He was only sorry that he bad not enough of both parties before him — the ringleaders j and if the jury would only do their duty, and find a whole lot of both sides guilty, he would then know how to deal with them. The only evidence they had for the Crown was the boy (Ratcliffe), who when about 14 years of age was the ringleader of an illegal procession himself. The jury returned a verdict of " Not guilty." Captain O'Donel, R.M., here went up to the Bench, and said it was not hi* fault that in the Rathfriland riot case both parties had not been made amenable. He thought the other party should have beun )w.t>, but the case was in the hands of the constabulary. His Lordship : I can only say that a more scandalous case on the administration of justice never came before me. I can only say that if that ie a sample of the admiuisi ration of justice in this county, the sooner no justice is administered here, the better.