SINN FEIN OUTRAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1920, Page 5

SINN FEIN OUTRAGE.

ATTACK UPON POLICE. A FIVE HOURS' BATTLE. A few weeks ago the village of Drombane, County Tipperary, was the scene of a daring affray, in which a party of 150 Sinn Feiners attacked the village hall, which had been occupied by the police for some 12 months. An unsuccessful attempt was made to blow up the building with dynamite, and the effects of the explosion were such that the gable was cracked and shattered, part of the roof blown affay, a stove inside driven into the middle of tha floor, and a large hole made in the soft earth beneath. A fierce and incessant fusillade of bullets rained on the barracks for four or five hours, the police returning the fire vigorously. There were, however, no casualties on either side. The besieged received reinforcements of police and military, but before their arrival the attackers had dispersed, leaving no trace. The cement walls of the station bore numerous bullet marks. The jambs and glass of the windows were completely shattered, and the solid steel shutters indented and pierced in many places, while several bullets were buried in the walls. The building is in the centre of j the village, and it is remarkable that nobody was shot. Houses great distances from the scene were struck. Sergeant O'Shea, who was in charge of the station, giving an account of the affair, states thai at twenty minutes to nine on a Sunday night, a whistle sounded, and the next thing was a burst of rifle firing—about 150 to 200 discharges. The attack came from the front and rear. The police, who numbered 13, at once took up their places and returned the fire. While the attack was in progress some of the party crept up to the eastern gable and placed two bombs in position, a loud explosion following. After four or five hours' firing the attackers withdrew, bnt the police continued their fire for another half-hour. Three unexploded bombs were found near the build, ing, evidently intended for use after a breach in the gable had been effected. During the filing one of the constables said lie heard digging going on outside the gable wall. Some of the police had scratched faces from flying glass splinters. Sergeant McDonnell and Constable McLoskey, who happened to be out at the time, but not together, were captured and held prisoners while the fight lasted, being told not to move away from the place after the raiders left'if they valued their lives.