IRISH EXECUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18324, 14 February 1923, Page 11

IRISH EXECUTIONS.

FATE OF BANDIT; GANG. SEVEN PAY DEATH PENALTY , Seven men were executed in Dublin ■; on December 19 for; being found improperly in possession of arms, making a total; of nineteen executions during the month." In announcing the carrying out of the sentences Dublin military headquarters in an official communique said that the seven men were charged before, a military committee with being in possession without proper ; authority, of 10 ; rifles, 4, bomb • detonators,; 200 rounds sof ammunition, and 1 exploder. They were found guilty and sentended to death! The sentence: was duly executed at 1 8.30. Before they were executed the condemned men were attended by Father Donnelly, chaplain to the troops, and allowed to communicate with their friends. The - I seven men belonged .to . a "flying column" of ten who for some time had been active in the; vicinity of Kildare, and who; were all; captured by the National troops. - They were found \n an ingeniously constructed dugout beneath the floor of a farmhouse at Moore's Bridge, closo to the Curragh ' Camp. The proprietress: of the farm waa herself in possession of a fully-loaded Webley revolver. .The gang evidently used the dugout as their headquarters. Stored . in" it : were about three tons of food supplies and the arms ; arid ammunition for being in ; possession of which they have paid the extreme penalty. One of.the ten .was shot .dead by a sentry ' when trying to make his escape by removing the sash from the window of the hut in which he was detained at the Curragh. Therefore, .only two ol the whole party to-day remain alive. 'Ah 'interesting light upon the depredations ''carried out by the gang - is thrown by the nature of the goods stored in their dugout. They consisted of articles looted from, shops in the district and from goods trains.; They .included -men's : overcoats, pants, boots, .trench ; coats, ladies' hats, knitting wool, .; large ; quantities} of; groceries, and three sacks of flour. It is stated that the activities of the .gang were also directed against the railway in the neighbourhood. Five 'of them were con ned in 'this derailment of engines; at . Cherry ville Junction when an attempt was made to dislocate the whole service of , the Great Southern and Western Railway^; The "column" is also stated to have been - responsible for an ambush of '{.: National troops at the Curragh on November 25. ' :#i"; -."-Vv-;