O’DUFFY’S ARREST

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1933, Page 6

O’DUFFY’S ARREST

,4| FREE TIGHT ENSUES,

United Presa Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

(Received this day at 12.40 p.m.) DUBLIN,. December 17,

With strong reinforcements within easy call, steel helmeted and gas masked soldiers patrolled 'Westport in lor r ies. ’The meeting progressed quietly until a cavalcade of one hundred heralded the approach of General O’DufEy whom the police had stopped a mile outside the "town;

O’-Duffy. with supporters on horseback entered Westport by another road. A cordon again stopped him, declaring he must not' speak wearing such a garb. He did' not resist but his cheering supporters heaved him shoulder high and charged the police. Despite their (batons they rushed him to the platform knocking down men and women.

. O’Duffy, amid yells and counter yells, seized a brief opportunity and shouted; “People of Ireland, be calm. Our cause will go on though I am imprisoned. We, : shall win.” •/;, - -J

.. The police fought through the-crowd, and stormed " the platform. O’Duffy' was surrounded by a hundred police and soldiers, and was taken to. the police" barracks, a rear .guard repelling' would-be rescuers. A strong guard en- ! circled the barracks.. The superintendent ’was unable to .state what charge was being preferred against o’Duffy, who was strongly supported locally. Fitzgerald, Kenny and others attempted to continue the meeting amid an up■roarous free fight and stamping of horses. The police acted with self restraint and no shots were fired. Republicans were scarce. Among those arrested were John Antrey, and John' Kilcoyne, the first blue shirt gaoled, who was making hi s first appearance since his release and Captain O’Sullivan, an ex-associate of Michael Collins, who followed Kilcoyne’s example of defiantly doffing bis overcoat and displaying his blue shirt, when speaking prior toO’Duffy’s arrival.

BE VALERA’S PLEA

Received this day at 2.15 p.m.)

DUBLIN, December 17

Mr de Valera, escorted by bands .and banner-bearers, adddressed a meeting of ten thousand at Tralee, where ho pleaded for unity, and ‘discipline: in Ireland’s economic struggle with England. ‘He also deplored. the recent outrages at Kerry, and added that the ministry urns . determined to enforce the Government’s authority. They must either have an ordered democracy or a dictatorship. The Government had ninety per cent of the Republicans behind it. The frightening of witnesses had prevented the courts from functioning in the true manner. Prior to a meeting at Listowel, the railway line was damaged, and telephone and telegraph wires cut. qnt.