IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 21, 31 May 1923, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

THE BISHOP OF CORK AND CRIME. Referring to the partial destruction of Saint Mary's Hall on a recent Sunday in Cork Cathedral, the Most Rev, Dr. Cohalan said that the crime had shocked all classes, since no one thought that Catholic men could be found in Ireland who would deliberately commit an outrage on a parish hall belonging to their Church. But, as his Lordship added, when one gets on an inclined plane in the moral order, descent to the abyss is rapid. Some in Ireland are on such a plane to-day, and to what depths they may be impelled no man can tell. This alone is certain, while the present Government remains in power they will not be permitted to drag the country after them upon their wild career. WWW PATRIOT PRELATE’S HOME BURNED: DETAILS OF TIRCONNAIL CRIME. Further particulars of the burning of the residence of Mr. Daniel O’Donnell, of Kilcraine, Glenties, brother of the Most Rev. Dr. O’Donnell, Archbishop of Attalia, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh, and Apostolic Administrator of Raphoe, are now available. Three armed men entered the house and roused the occupants, Mr. Daniel O’Donnell, and two young relatives, from their beds, declaring that they were going to burn the house, as a reprisal for the Drumboe executions. They were given a few minutes to clear out of the house, after which the raiders saturated the walls, floors, and furniture with petrol and set the building ablaze. The occupants were warned that if they dared to remove any article of furniture they would be shot down. Great sympathy is expressed with Mr. O’Donnell by residents in the neighborhood. Furniture in the dwell-ing-house was also destroyed. Outside there was also a party of men on guard. This is the family home of "Most Rev. Dr. O’Donnell. Here were born his brothers, Dr. John O’Donnell, of Merrion Square, Dublin; Air. Daniel O’Donnell, 8.L., and other members of the family. . THE IRISH RAILWAYS. The recent meetings of the chief railway companies in that country were marked by the submission of reports which have enabled the public to visualise the enormous material damage wrought during the period of general disorder that followed the Republican revolt last summer. In this connection the address delivered by Sir William doubling to the Great Southern and Western shareholders was particularly effective. Having reminded them that sections of their permanent way had been broken on almost five hundred different occasions, that thirty-six of their engines had been damaged, and that two hundred and ninety of their bridges had been attacked by Irregulars, he informed them that the company’s gross receipts for the year amounted only to £2,400,000, compared to £3,400,000 for 1921 —a decrease wholly due to the disorganising influence of the civil war. Although the other reports were slightly less depressing, they all told the same story of lawless aggression against national trade and enterprise, the chairman at the Midland Great Western meeting adverting particularly to the senseless destruction of that company’s splendid hotel at Recess (Connemara), long a well-known centre for tourists visiting the West. On one point, however, the reports were more than satisfactory; they all paid tribute to th ©energy, resource, and civic courage shown by the railway employees when faced by difficulties and dangers. The splendid courage which has been displayed by these trade unionists cannot compensate the country for lost life and trade, but it has set a high example to the Irish people. Were all the nonRepublican sections of the community to manifest a tithe of that civic courage which has marked' the conduct of the railwayman, peace would reign to-morrow in every corner of the land. As it is, a sense of their responsibility is, no doubt, beginning to dawn painfully upon the public, but we may yet have a long road to travel before our last local councillor has realised that patriotism shows itself,

not in playing to the noisiest element in the gallery, but in working for the stability of the State and the reconstruction of the country. A GOLDEN JUBILEE OBSERVANCE. A Dublin message under date April 12, says;—Scenes of great devotion marked the observance of the golden jubilee of the consecration of Ireland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Throughout the city of Dublin the occasion was marked by impressive exercises. In general there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from the time of the last Mass until evening, when Benediction was given. Great multitudes of people visited the churches and participated in the devotion. Special solemnity marked the celebration of the anniversary at the Pro-Cathedral, where his Grace the Archbishop presided fit the High Mass. ( The Dean and the Chapter of the archdiocese were present for the ceremonies. A sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached at this service, and after the Mass the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart was read. "Fifty years ago,” said Rev. Father Flanagan in his discourse, '•the Irish Bishops consecrated our country to the Sacred Heart. What was the significance of that? ft meant that we were committed as a nation and pledged to loyalty and fidelity to Christ, that we were committed and pledged to safeguard, as far as we could, His interests in the world, and that we gave ourselves to His love and service, individually and collectively, as a country. Today we recall and renew that solemn act.” The day was a great one for the country, and its observance wherever it was celebrated served to recall a historic event in the country’s history. IRREGULARS’ BASELESS CHARGES; ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. A campaign has been carried on by Irregulars about the ill-treatment of prisoners, and from time to time allegations are made for which there is no foundation. When a document was circulated some time ago alleging torture of prisoners by officers of the National Army, no evidence was brought forward to sustain the charge. President Cosgrave has said if those who complained would give partculars he would have investigations made. He had one such case inquired into, and found that the allegation of torture could not be substantiated. It was the case of Joseph Clarke, a member of the Dublin Corporation. President Cosgrave, on receiving a letter from Airs. Clarke complaining -that her husband had been illtreated in Mountjoy 7 , immediately sent an officer, Commandant O’Reilly, who investigated the case, and it was found that Clarke was in perfect health, and bore no signs of ill-treatment. No 111-Treatment. “The fact of the matter is,” said President Cosgrave, “this is simply another attempt to embarrass the Government.” He added that they held at the time 7000 prisoners. There had been only one death, a case of appendicitis, so that it did not appear there was much ill-treat-ment going on. Another allegation (says the Irish Bulletin) is that of shooting at unarmed prisoners. It will be recalled that prisoners in Alountjoy some months ago attacked the guards from their cells with firearms, killing two and wounding three. In the return fire one prisoner was killed and two wounded. In a search of the prisoners’ cells a land mine, revolvers and ammunition were found. Count Plunkett’s Scare. On the same day the following telegram, misrepresenting the incident, was sent to the Bishop of Galway by Count Plunkett: —“Many prisoners shot in Mountjoy this morning. Free State officers charged with murder and savage treatment of prisoners. Bishops should press for impartial inquiry.” This was effectively countered, however, by the leader of the prisoners himself. A. Cuanan, who accepted full responsibility for everything that happened, and stated*: — “That anv lives should be lost occasions my most sincere regret. I have’absolutely no grievance against the guard. They simply did their duty. Neither have I any cause for • complaint against the officers in the prison, whose duty it was to keep us prisoners, and who, therefore, are in no .way to blame for the loss of life.”