THE DUBLIN RIOTING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 10 December 1914, Page 5

THE DUBLIN RIOTING.

POLICE HELD BLAMEWORTHY

For the bloodshed that followed the intervention of the military in the Dublin gun-running sensation in July last the police authorities are held to blame by the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry. The casualties, which ■consisted of five killed and 30 wounded, resulted from shots fired by the King's Own Scottish Boorderers on July 26, after the landing of arms intended for the Nationalist volunteers at Howth. The Commission were presided over by Lord Shaw (one of the British. Law Lords), and among their general conclusions were the following:— " ... The employment of the police and military whs not in accordance with law. •

Mr Harrel, the Assistant Commissioner of Po'ice at Dublin, is responsible for calling out the military, as well as for giving orders issued to the police. Sir James Dougherty, the Undersecretary for Ireland, stands free from- blame. General Cuthbert should have considered whether seizure of arms was marked by proper authority. He did not adequately consider these things, and his compliance with the Assistant Commissioner's call was wrong, apart from fundamental illegality. As to the seizure of the rifles, there was no case warranting military intervention. The Commission found that at the scene of the conflict near Clontarf the conduct of Mr Harrel in parleying with the leaders of the crowd, and of Captain Cobden (reported missing at the war) in resolving against firing, was prudent and correct. Between Clontarf and Bachelors' "Walk the military were insulted and assailed with missiles v but there was no such danger as to justify the use of firearms in Bachelors' Walk. As to the command by Major Haig (reported wounded at the front) to five -or six men to prepare to fire under his orders, the Commissioners, do not pronounce upon it, holding it not proved that the actual order to fire was given or that any order to fire proceeded from any officer. Promiscuous firing by 21 soldiers of the .Scottish Borderers took place without oi-ders, but the Commissioners think that the troops were under the impression that the order was given. The Commissioners commend the eases of all the victims to the favorable consideration of the Government.