RIOTS IN IRELAND

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1887, Page 5

RIOTS IN IRELAND

London, September 9. A SERIOUS riot, attended with loss of life, occurred at Mitchelstown, County Cork, to-day. William OBrien, M.P., who had been charged under the Crimes Act with inciting tenants to resist the law, failed to put in an appearance at the Courthouse to answer the summons, whereupon a warrant for his arrest was issued. At the termination of the Court proceedings a meeting of Nationalists was held in the town, upwards of 3,000 persons being present, including Messrs Labouchere and Condon, as well as several other members of the House of Commons. An official reporter, escorted by a dozen policemen, was attacked by the crowd, and the constabulary had to be reinforced. On attempting to make an arrest the crowd furiously resisted the police, and attacked them vith bludgeons and stones, seriously injuring many of the officers. The police were eventually driven into their barracks, which the crowd surrounded, keeping up a fusillade of stones. Subsequently the police sallied forth and fired into the mob, killing two and wounding four, and the military being called out, finally dispersed the rioters.

London, Sept-ember 10. In the disturbances afc Mitchelstown yesterday, fifty-four police and one hundred and fifty civilians were injured. All is quiet in the neighbourhood to-day.

London, September 11th. Large numbers of mounted and un mounted peasants from Limerick and Tipperary attended the demonstration at Mitchelstown, on the occasion of the riots. The police believe that these had formed themselvees into an organisation with the intention of provoking a disturbance. The peasant cavalry backed into the ranks of the police force, breaking their formation and causing disorder. It is reported that hundreds of the rioters dipped their handkerchiefs in the blood of the victims. The bands took their departure playing lively airs, while banners were gaily flaunted. In the House of Commons some dis cussion took place on the subject of the riot. Mr J. B. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland, stated that Mr Condon's remarks were the signal for a brutal attack upon the police who only fired in self-defence. He also stated that nine constables were seriously injured, and he expressed the opinion that the Irish political leaders were mainly responsible for this disgraceful disturbance. Mr J. O'Connor replied to Mr Balfour's statements, and in the course of his remarks said that he was proud of the " magnificent Tipperary boys." Mr Michael Davitt denounces the butchery by the police. Sir Redvers Buller has resigned his command in Ireland.

London, September 13. | A serious affray has taken place in County Clare, Ireland, between a party of Moonlighters and the polico. In the course of the fight the head constable of Ennis was killed. The police finally succeeded in arresting seven of the Moonlighters. A dozen Moonlighters were about to murder a farmer for taking a farm from which the former tenants had been evicted, when they were surprised by the police, a party of whom had been lying in ambush. Aftor a desperate fight, seven of them wero captured, but not before several of the police had been severely wounded, and one killed. Previous tohisarrest Mr OBrien spent the day at Calgybrook, with Messrs Dillon and Harrington. Pie received a telegram from Messrs Laboucherc and lirennan asking him to accompany them to London, Messrs OBrien and Harrington wero going on boaid the steamer at Kingston to decline the invitation, when a detective met OBrien, and told him he would not arrest him if he would promise not to go to England. O'Biien refused, and was taken to the ] Imperial Hotel, escorted by the police, who infoimed him that he could remain there for the night on condition that he did not make a speech. He refused, and addressed the crowd from the balcon} r , saying that as long as there was breath in his body his voice would not be silent, unless he was gagged. He was proud to suffer with the poor victims of MitchelstoAvn. The offer of promise of non-arrest if he did not go to England indicated that the Government dreaded his appearance there. The crowd was enthusiastic. When interviewed at the hotel O'Biien said he only wanted to board the steamer to speak to Mr Labouchcro. He had not intended to speak after his arrest until it was suggested by the detectives. Mr Win. OBrien was yesterday taken to Cork, where he was charged with inciting tenants to resist the law, and was remanded and imprisoned, bail being refused. In the House of Commons last night a debate was raised by Sir William Y. Harcourt on affairs in Ireland. In the course of his remarks he declared that the stopping of the meeting was flagiantly an illegality, which Englishmen would never stand, Mr Gladstone took pait in the debate, and concurred in the views expressed by Sir Wm. Harcourt. In reply, the Chief Secretary for Ireland retorted that, during Earl Spencer's term of office, no less than 130 meetings had been stopped. The resignation of Sir Kedvers Buller was not owing to any difference with the Government, but in consequence of his return to the Horse Guards. The police, added Mr Balfour, were perfectly justified, in defence of their lives, in firing upon the people. The Government, he declared, would persist firmly in upholding the law. Mr Labouchere and Mr Dillon, who were witnesses of the affair at Mitchelstown, insisted that the police were the aggressors. Mr Balfour said the police fired to save the wounded, who were crawling to the barracks under showers of stones and blows. He reproached the Opposition with looking on the lives and property of the Irish as mere counters in a political game. Lord Churchill warmly supported the Government. The motion to adjourn was negatived by 228 to 87. In the course of the discussion Mr Gladstone strongly deprecated acts of recrimination in dealing with the Irish difficulty. Mr Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland, contended that the outrages of the rioters justified the action of the police in firing on their assailants. The Government were, he added, determined to administer the law in Ireland with firmness. Mr Parnell moved the adjournment of the House in order that the debate might be prolonged. Lord Randolph Churchill declared that the Irish people had challenged the Government, and Parliament must support the Ministers in their action. The defeat of the motion for adjournment terminated the discussion.

London, September 12. The latest reports of the riots at Mitchelstown, County Cork, show that the casualties were at first exaggerated. It has been ascertained that the injured number 50, and are principally policemen. Of the rioters who were shot } only one was killed, but two others are not expected to recover. Mr Sexton, M.R, has challenged the Government to justify Mr Balfour's assertion in the House of Commons, that Mr Condon incited the crowd to oppose the presence of official reporters at the meeting and exclude them by force. »■ The official report of the riot states that on the police being attacked, they retreated to the barracks, and on being again attacked there they fiied in selfdefence, the rioters incurring just retribution. The "New York World" reports that the London " Times" has obtained possession of a letter from Dillon to Sheridan, covertly approving of the Phoenix Park murders. Mr OBrien, in addressing his sympathisers after his arrest, said that, if the people would emulate the spirit of the Irish at Mitchelstown, Ireland would noon be delivered from the English thrall.