DEATH OF LIAM LYNCH

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 175, 12 April 1923, Page 7

DEATH OF LIAM LYNCH

WOUNDED AND CAPTURED IN RUNNING FIGHT MEETING OF REPUBLICANS SURPRISED © OTHER REBEL LEADERS ESCAPE ;<\ _ <. • ■ ' ' ■' \ i . ■ Liam Lynch, who was chief of staff of the Irish Republican army, has died of wounds. Free State troops surprised ’ a Republican meeting, arranged to take a final decision in connection with the proposal to make peace, and during a runriing fight Lynch was struck by a stray shot, and captured by the National forces. He was taken to hospital, where he . died from his wound. Other rebel leaders escaped.

BY TELEG3APH—PRE IS ASSOCIATION, —OoPYBIGHT.

London, April 10. Liam Lynch, chief of the irregulrr forces was captured in. a fight at Clonmel. Pa Valera, tig Countess Markievicz, and other leaders were surprised at a meeting with Liam Lynch at Clonmel. Lynch was seriously wounded in a running fight and captured. The capture of the other leaders is' expected any moment. —-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. April 11, 8.10 p.m.r • London, April 11. Liam Lynch died at CJoniufll at 0 o'clock. 1 The story of Tfis capture, by Free State forces will be told in Irish homes for many a year. The Republican Executive had" arranged to hold a meeting near Newcastle at the foot or Knockmealdown Mountains. A farmhouse in the heart of the country was chosen The occasion was ,of the gravest importance, as the purpose of the meeting was to lake a final decision in connection with the proposal to make peace. One. by one the Republican leaders managed to reach the appointed place, and on Tuesday morning most of the big men in the movement, including de Valera, were there. Outposts were thrown round, lest tho fateful gathering should be dsiurbed by inquisitive patrols. Every precaution was taken to keep the date and place- of meeting secret, but whether by accident or design National troops appeared with dramatic suddenness Eire was opened by some Republi can scouts, who seem to have lost their reads. Then a pitched battle developed round the farmhouse. The Nationals soejn to have been put-numbered by tlte Republicans, who subjected them to a fierce and prolonged fusillade, in

order to cover the retreat of their leaders, whose arrest was to be avoided at any cost. A stray shot struck Lynch. Valera and Breen dfd their utmost, taking him along, half carrying and half dragging him. The' troops were following so oKlso . that tlrey forced, them to abandon their comrade, wise later was removed to hospital. The other leaders, including de Valera and Dan Breen, escaped.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. DEPORTATION OF ART. O’BRIEN WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS APPLIED FOR (Rec. April 11, 5.5 p.m.) London,’ April 10. An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of Art O’Brien, one of those deported to lleland, was discharged on the ground that the Home Secretary no longer had custody of the applicant.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DECREASE IN CRIME IN ULSTER

London, April 10. Tn opening the Belfast Assizes the Lord Chief Justice commented on the extraordinary decrease in crime, compai ed with the corresponding period for 1922. Murders had fallen from 97 to nil; attempted murders, 50 to nil; arson, 12 to nilmalicious injury, 97 to 1; .robbery, 130 to 9,; firearm offences, 40 to 3.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn k