RIOT IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 11

RIOT IN IRELAND.

RIVAL FACTIONS CLASH.

OUTBREAKS OF LAWLESSNESS. BATON CHARGES BY POLICE. The worst aspects of the old-time Irish party feuds were revived in County Armagh on August 15, when tne annual Lady Day demonstrations of the Ancient Order of Hibernians provoked outbreaks of lawlessness, fighting, looting and burn-

In a vain attempt to prevent the demonstrators from reaching Armagh City, gangs of armed men cut the Great Northern Railway near RichhilJ and forced the driver of a goods train to drive his engine on to the damaged line, cut telegraph lines and felled trees across the main roads.

Before the demonstration was due to besin, however, the railway line had been repaired and police with axes had cleared the roads. Several thousand Hibernians attended it, but afterwards serious

trouble developed between the rival factions, and the police had to make repeated baton charges. Following the cutting of the railway line, 20 men armed with rifles and revolvers held up a goods train at 4 a.m. "I saw a red light being waved and a bonfire on the side of the line, ' said the driver. "As soon as I stopped the engine was surrounded by men with revolvers. They ordered me to uncouple the engine, but" I protested. 'The revolvers were levelled at me and the fireman was directed to get down and uncouple the engine. He had to obey. "As soon as the engine was uncoupled the men directed tne to get up steam and drive the engine over a portion of the track from which a rail was removed. 1 again protested, but they said, 'lt you don't you'll get a bullet.' "A shot was fired in the air. I got up steam, but not very much, and as soon as the engine moved along the permanent way I jumped out on the track." The engine left the rails but did not fail and block the down line, as was the apparent intention, and a breakdown gang was able to restore double-line working early in the afternoon.

• Later in the day 12.000 people at tended the demonstration at Armagh. It passed off quietly, but afterwards rioting broke out when the police attempted to stop a party of Hibernians from passing down a Unionist thoroughfare. Amid much shouting of party war cries and singing of party songs, stones were thrown and several people were injured. Extra police were rushed to the scene and for several hours there were intervals of baton charges, the mobs dispersing only t.o collect again. The rioting went on until nearly midnight and several ringleaders were arrested.