LEITRIM SHOOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 11

LEITRIM SHOOTING.

LENIENCY FOR ACCUSED. ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT. 'Received March 11, 5.5 p.m.) DUBLIN, March 10. Joseph Leddy has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment on each charge for the murder of Air. Patrick Reynolds at Foxfield, Leitrim (whose widow now is a member of the Dail), and the manslaughter of Detective Patrick McGeehan, the sentences to be concurrent. For the defence it was alleged that red terror prevailed at Leitrim at the time of the shooting. The jury recommended Leddy to mercy on the manslaughter charge on account of provocation. The Judge signified his entire agreement with the recommendation. He promised to forward it to the Minister of Justice in order that Leddy might not lose his pension as an ex-mcmber of th 6 Royal Irish Constabulary.

Mr. Patrick Reynolds, a Government candidate at the Irish elections and an exmember of the Dail, and Detective McGeehan were shot dead at Foxfield, County Lcitrim, on February 14. The two men were accompanied by Mr. Mahony, a barrister, and a Government candidate for the Dail. They were travelling from Carrick-on-Shannon to Ballinamore in the afternoon and they stopped at Foxfield for canvassing purposes when Messrs. Reynolds and McGeehan were shot dead with a double-barrelled shotgun. Joseph Ledrly wis subsequently arrested. He is a Royal Irish Constabulary pensioner.

Both the murdered men were witnesses at an inquest which had just ended into the death of a Republican leader, James Vaugh, who, it was alleged, died as a result of ill-treatment by the Civic Guards while he was detained in the Ballinamore barracks. Vaugh's father said he heard some Guards telling their companions that his son was beaten by an escort. Detective McGeehan had denied ill-treating Vaugh and said the Guards treated him in the kindliest possible way. Vaugh, after his discharge, accepted drinks from a detective who was said to have assaulted him. Mr. Reynolds had said ho heard Vaugh thanking tho Guards for their treatment of him. He did not notico marks of injuries on him. Vaugh was arrested on December 5 and was discharged ou December 8. Ho did not appear before a military tribunal. Doctors, in evidence, said Vaugh died from influenza and congestion of the lungs. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.