SENSATION RECALLED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 8

SENSATION RECALLED

FATHER O’DONNELL RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA. Australian and E.Z. Cable Association . LONDON, Juno 10. . Tho Rev. ..Fattier OfDonneil will return to Australia-in duly. The Army Council paid him £SSO for his expenses m connection with his recent arrest and court-martial on charges of alleged disloyal utterances regarding .Britain ana Ireland. . Father.-O'Donnell, an Australian army chaplain, was arrested by the military in Ireland on a charge of using traitorous and disloyal language when speaking in tlio presence of a British officer at ivillarney. He was alleged to have said;—-‘The time is coming, and that very soon, when Ireland will strike out for herself and claim that 'glorious independence so. long dear to every patriot’s, heart. 1 shall come forward to help the people hero hi their struggle against the tyrannical English Government. Wo, Australians fought for independence and the right of self-gov- . eminent by small nations, which is being denied to the finest and oldest little country in the world by a. few servants of King George who are filling their own pockets at the expense of the working people, and whoso hands are red with tho blood of Irish patriots.” Father O'Donnell roundly denied the charge, and was acquitted by courtmartial in London..