OUTRAGES IN IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 5

OUTRAGES IN IRELAND

AN ORGY OF DESTRUCTION. DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 13. A new series of outrages, apparently concerted, in many parts of Ireland included the destruction of the police barracks at Ballybrock, Bessborough, Killogrange, Carrickbeg, Carrigan and Camlough. It is noteworthy that Bessborough is only half a mile distant from the Vice-Regal Lodge. The attackers cut the telegraphs, dislocating communications with Dublin and provincial centres. Other parties burned down the Bantry Customs Office. Armed and masked men held up the Kilcommon-Nenagh mail and seized the police correspondence. Another party seized and tarred F. Sheehy, of Skibbercen. The Income Tax Office, housed in the Scottish Provident Building in Belfast, was raided by masked men. The clerks working there were overpowered and bound. The raiders emptied the shelves and desks, and piled income documents on the floor where they were saturated with petrol and set on fire. The raiders then decamped. No arrests have been effected. MORE INCENDIARISM. BONFIRES OF OFFICE RECORDS. LONDON, May 13. (Received May 14, 7.20 p.m.) The police barracks at Carrigard, in Donegal, and at Kolleter, in Tyrone, were destroyed. The masked raiders who held up the clerks in the Belfast Income Tax Office destroyed all the papers, but the fire brigade saved Ihe building. The Customs Office at Bantry was completely destroyed after the books and documents had been piled on a bonfire. Similar outrages were perpetrated at the Old Age Pensions Office at Newtown Stewart, tiie Income Tux Office at Londonderry. and the Inland Revenue Office at Enniskillen. Eight masked men raided the Downpatrick Excise Office and stole a quantity of documents. A clergyman living next door was shot in the thigh while assisting the caretaker. Masked men captured (he mail between Nenagh and Thurles, seizing a number of police documents. A muil train was raided at Middleton and the constabulary mail was captured. FURTHER OUTRAGES,

(United Service.) LONDON, May 13. (Received May 14, 7.55 p.m.) The fresh outrages include the burning of police barracks in the suburbs of Cork. Explosives were used to complete the destruction. The Rev. Canon Wilkinson, of Down Cathedral was (he clergyman who was shot in the thigh while endeavouring to stop the raid on the Downpatrick Excise Office. REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE POLICE MILITARY GUARDS. LONDON, May 14. (Received May 14, 11.40 p.m.) Yes'rnlay’s outbreak of guerilla warfare in Ireland recalls (he Easter outrages. Bombs were used in a number of cases. A human hand was found near the scene of one raid. It was apparently accidentally blown off a Sinn Feiner. Most of the police barracks were unoccupied, and their destruction was finite wanton. The cost will fall on the local ratepayers, many of whom are Sinn Feiners. Where the barracks were occupied by sergeants their families were bundled out in the smalt hours of the morning by armed and masked men. The children were terrified to see their homes burning. Lord Birkenhead, speaking at- the Newspaper Press Fund, said the Government had just taken special and wholly exceptional steps to reinforce (lie Royal Irish Constabulary force, whose morale hud never faltered. They would know when they wont upon rheir most dangerous task that night that the Government were adding tn their number men who had already fought for the Empire and were now going to devote ihem-.-lves to the task of determining whethf f)-e mor Grer- -n G-u) were strong enough to destroy the Empire. A touching story was told at Belfast at an inquest on a boy who was shot in a field. His father stated (hat he found the boy lying beside two horses which had also been shot dead. The hoy said neighbours, whose mimes he would not disclose, committed the outrage. The father went (n a neighbour's house and asked for water, which was refused. Two men in a field, when asked for assistance, turned their backs upon him. Others declined to fetch a priest. The father later procured help and curried the boy to his house, where he died. A verdict of murder by persons unknown was returned. It is understood that the Government have decided upon a military guard of one or two soldiers for cvny policeman in order to end (he campaign of anarchy and murder in Ireland. CHIEF SECRETARY’S POLICY. LONDON, May 13. Sir Ifamar Greenwood. Chief Secretary for Ireland, interviewed in Dublin, said; “Since my appointment I have signed no deportation orders. X have released many prisoners arrested on suspicion after personally e.viminmtr the ground on whirl; suspicion was hared. I personally ordered Alderman O’Briet:’.; release. These things show that I am carrying out my intention to try to establish norma.! life in Ireland, including normal proceedings in the rourls of just' y. I am expressing tiie views of my countrymen end of the world when I say (hat the gallant lii-h police 'deserve the admiration of ail. The Government will not fail in their fluty tn them.”