HEARTRENDING STORY OF AN EVICTION IN IRELAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1102, 8 May 1883, Page 1

HEARTRENDING STORY OF AN EVICTION IN IRELAND.

The correspondent of the Cork Herald, writing from Killarney, supplies the following The usual weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians of the Killarney Union was held on Tuesday, I3th March, Mr J. D. Sheehan in the chair. Also present— Messrs John Quirke, John Price, Timothy Counihan, Jeremiah Callaghan, Jerry Denovan, Michael Sheehan, and P. F. Doyle.

A respectable-looking man named John M’Mahon, an evicted tenant, applied to the Board for relief. The Chairman : If I don’t greatly mistake there was something of a very serious nature transpired in reference to this case. I believe during the eviction a child of his died.

Mr M’Mahon : Yes, sir; a fine girl of eighteen years. Chairman ; Mr Coffey (R. 0.), when did you get notice of this eviction 1 Mr Coffey : I got notice of the eviction in the usual way on 25th November last.

Chairman; As I understand, it was a case of unparalleled hardship, and whoever was responsible for the death of th» poor girl should be made amenable to the laws of- the country. Mr Callaghan: I don’t think such a case ever under our notice before. Mr O’Brien : Was the agent there ? M’Mahon; Yes, sir; Mr Bastable Hilliard was there. When my poor child heard that the sheriff had come to turn us out of house and home, she, being ailing previously, became very bad, and when she was put out, the snow falling thick and fast about us,- I took the door off the hinges to shelter her, but the sheriffs pulled it away; my child died there in the haggard, with nothing to protect her remains from the blast but a thin sheet. Chairman : It was a most shocking and inhuman case, indeed. Why was there not an inquest held ? M’Mahon, in reply to the Board, said that he had at present nine children besides bis wife to support. Mr Counihan proposed, and Mr O'Brien seconded, that a auta of 25s per week be allowed the applicant. Chairman : I would very much like that a resolution be proposed containing an expression of opinion with regard to the cruelty of this case, In order that it may be inserted on the minutes. The Local Government Board would then.see the inhuman state of affairs with regard to evictions at present existing in County

Kerry. Mr M’Mahon : It appears that this girl was in good health until it became known that threatening letters were written in the neighborhood. She was suspected of having written them by the police, and a copy-book belonging to her was seized at the time. They were not, however, able to prove anything against her. She felt the imputation cast upon her character so keenly that she became ill, and her sickness was made all the more serious by the fact that the police would frequently come to her father’s house, and sit by her bedside for hours so sea if s'ie wore shamming or not. (Oh, shame.) M’Mahon : And Archdeacon Bland twice sent the sub-inspector from Kilhrney to my place at night. Mr Reardon, coroner for the district, here entered the room, and being questioned as to why an inquest was not held, naid : As the matter occurred some ten days ago, I don’t see what service an inquest would render. But it certainly does seem strange that when those in charge of the eviction saw the condition of the poor girl they did not cease for a t'me. Chairman: It was a most inhuman proceeding on the part of those who had charge of the eviction to deprive the poor girl of her life. Mr Counihan: I have much pleasure in also proposing—“ That us an expression of opinion we condemn and proles* against the cruel and inhuman eviction of John McMahon; and we direct the attention of the Government to the death of his daughter, without proper notice being given to the relieving officer go as to have her sheltered and protected.” Chairman : Well, gentlemen, I suppose this meets the views of the whole Board. After some further discussion, the reso lution proposing to grant £1 5a per week relief to M’Mahon and the resolution of Mr Counihan, were then put to the Board and carried unanimously.