THE GLENAHIRY OUTRAGE

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 19

THE GLENAHIRY OUTRAGE

ACTION AGAINST A COUNTY. LORD ASHTOWN RECOVERS DAMAGES. LONDON. Febiuary 6. The damages ar.d costs in the action brought by Lord Ashtown against the county in connection with the bomb outl'l"- ->t OleiinTiirv Lodge, Wexford, amounted to £500 (?), or a tax of 16 m the pound over the affected aiea. The outrage occurred at Lord Ashtown's residence, Glenahiry Lodge, County of Waterford, about 2 a.m. on August 14-. A violent explosion completely wrecked the drawing room and shook the «hole house: fire followed, but the flame? wer<» soon extinguished. Lord Ashtown's bedroom v, as immediately o^ ov the room where the explosion occurred. In reply to an inquiry as to whether the subject of the outrage had reason to consider it an attempt xipo.x bis life, he expressed -the conviction that it was committed wiih that intention, though he does not believe the outrage was the work of anyone in the locality. He is inclined to think that if was planned in the West of Ireland, where he is constantly under police protection — a constable guards the hall door, another one (armed) follows him when ho walks about his estate, and when he is driving he is followed by an armed constable on a bicycle. Lord Ashtown, who is in his fortieth year, owns 22,000 acres of land in Ireland. He is a member of the Irish Landowners' Convention, and has taken a prominent part in opposing the operations of the United Irish League in County Gal way. MR REDMOND EXCHANGES LETTERS WITH MR BIRRELL. LORD ASHTOWN'S RETORT. In October Mr John Redmond wroie a. remarkable letter to Mr Bjrrell, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, demanding an inquiry into the recent explosion at Lord Ashtown's shooting lodge. In the course of the letter he said : — " Hitherto all has been done is to take steps to make persons pay compensation to Lord Ashtown for an outrage which they certainly had no connection with, and not only compensation but enormous costs, to Lord Ashtown for putting the blame of this outrage on the innocent people of the County of Waterford, who live in the district of Glenahiry. Has any explanation ever been attempted to show how the large pot loaded with blasting powder was conveyed to Glenahiry Lodge without any trace of a footstep being left on tho soft earth on a rainy night? "It 16 well known that Mr Kelly, of Waterford (gunpowder dealer), sold 601b of blasting powder and 16ft of the very fuse used for the explosion to some person on July 23 last, and that the powder and fuse were delivered at Pilltown station on July 24. It is not possible to discover to whom the powder and fuse were sold, and to whom they were delivered? Only 101b of powder were used, according to the evidence of Captain Lloyd, the Home Office witness. Might not the police discover what has become of the 501b not used for the explosion, with the legal assistance at your command? It is surely unnecessary to point out to you that you have various means at your command to find out the truth and bring the criminals to justice." To this Mr Birrell replied, pointing out that the three modes of inquiry open — a Viceregal Commission, a Home Office inquiry, or one under the Explosive Substances Act — were all unlikely to serve a useful purpose. He added: — "The police are actively engaged in tracing the powder and fuse, and it may .will be that an inquiry ujader the Explo-

sive Substances Act may prove useful, but just no«, having regard to the information in the possession of the police, I and my advisers are clearly of opinion that such an inquiry, instead of doing g*>od. would almost certainly do harm, and defeafc our common object — the discovery of the perpetrator of this most mysterious outrage.'' This letter brought Lord Ashtown into th» field, and he has written to Mr Birrpll pointing out certain inaccurate statements which his lordship alleges Mr Redmond made, more especially with regard to the pot which was used. " But," Lord Ashiown continues " considerations of much graver and more momentous character are suggested by that | part of Mr Redmond's letter in which he states that a Waterford doaler had sold 601b of blasting powde? which was delivered at Pjlltown station on July 24-. May J share in Mr Redmond's curiosity to know why the police are supposed to have failed in tracing the persons to whom this powder was sold?" In conclusion. Lord Ashtown said tha occasion demanded a full and fearless investigation by men of the hiarl'.est judicial training and independent Dosition, like the late Mr Justice Day, who presided over tho Belfast Riots Commission. To such a tribunal, armed with the highest powers and the fullest authority, Lord Ashtowhi would most gladly submit.