PRISON SENTENCES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 206, 28 May 1936, Page 9

PRISON SENTENCES

Republican Army Members Dublin, May 26. As a sequel to the recent arrests of members of the Irish Republican Army, Patrick Collins was charged before a military tribunal with membership of an illegal organisation, and with failing to account for his move ments. Collins refused to plead, not recognising the court. Mr. Geoghegan, counsel representing the Irish Free State, recalled the mur ders of Vice-Admiral Somerville on March 25. and a boy, John Egan, on April 27, and said that lite police had ascertained enough to satisfy them that the murders were organised and carried out by an organisation whose members were in unlawful possession of firearms.

The Police Superintendent, Mr. Diggin, said that Collins refused to answer when asked if he knew who shot Vice-Admiral Somerville and Egan. Collins denied that he was a member of an unlawful association, the Republican Army He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and was removed from the court, shouting "Up with the Republic." Five others were sentenced from 12 months to three years’ imprison ment on one or both of the above charges.

On March 25 Vice-Admiral Henry Boyle Somerville was murdered in his home bv a gunman, being shot with a revolver after a motor-ear containing a number of men had drawn up outside hie house. A note was pinned to the body stating "This is a warning to all British recruiting agents." On April 27 a number ol men drove up to the home ol John Egan at Dungurvau, County Waterford, and riddled hijn with bulleta.