DUBLIN STRIKERS' CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 17

DUBLIN STRIKERS' CHILDREN.

PRIESTS OPPOSE THEIR REMOVAL. EXCITING SCENES. Exciting scenes were witnessed at Kingsbridge Station, Dublin, on Saturday evening, when an attempt was made to entrain several Dublin children for England, via Eosslare and Fishguard, on the four o'clock train. Four children escaped from their guardians, and ran out of the station. Mr. Sheehy SkelSngton, who supports Mrs. Montefiore's scheme for caring for the children, was present on the platform, and was attacked by the crowd and badly hurt. The tyres were cut off his bicycle, and the machine was rendered useless. Mr. Skeffington has charged two men who were present with assauit. A number of priests and a large crowd of people watched for any attempt to deport children by the 6.30 train from the etation. A man drove up In a motor car ro-ith his daughter and grandchild. The child was about four years of age, and suspicion was aroused. Priests and police inspectors interviewed the man, and the crowd shouted to "save" the child. The man was delayed so long that he missed his train, and the crowd would not let him depart until a police officer got into the car and drove away with him. A somewhat similar case occurred at Korth Wall, when the crowd stopped a cab In which were six children with their mother. Not until the lady had produced lier marriage certificate from the trunk on the top of the cab were the party allowed to go on board the Liverpool boat. The same vigilance was observed by the priests and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians on the departure of the Holybead boat No children appeared, and the tremendous crowd, at least 10,000 strong, formed Into a procession, and marched along the quays and into the city singing Catholic hymns. The Eoman Catholic Archbishop of Dnblln writes to the Dublin Press on the subject of the removal of Catholic children to England, and, in the course of his letter, he says:—"I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion, and Indeed my strong conviction, that the policy of removing poor children from their homes to places. Whether In England or in Ireland, as a latter of temporary relief, is an eminently Unsatisfactory and unsound one."