IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 19522, 23 May 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

THE ARSON CAMPAIGN DESTRUCTION OF ANTRIM SEATS FIGHTING IN BELFAST (By Telegraph—Press Ass'j. —Copyright.) (United Service). LONDON, May 20. Details of the incendiarism in Ireland show that Lord O’Neill’s castle was attacked in military style. A large force, crossing Lough Neagh in the small hours, surrounded the castle, surprising the watchman. They then forced the petrol store. The land steward and a carpenter rushed out, but were promptly captured. The latter was shot in the leg. They and other servants were confined in the kitchen. The pantry boy was forced at the revolver point to carry petrol with which the attackers saturated the woodwork. Before setting fire to the house the incendiaries placed Lord O’Neill on a stretcher and ordered the servants to carry him to the land agent’s house. Lady O’Neill, a pathetic, weeping figure, followed on foot. The raiders retired when the castle was well ablaze. The burning of Old Court Castle, filled with priceless heirlooms, was similarly carried out. Lady De Ros was suddenly awakened and watched the conflagration from the lawn in her night clothes. Another fine residence, Craighally House, near Ballymena, burned in the same manner, was the seat of the Hon. W. R. Young, brother of General Young, Sergeant-at-Arms in the Northern Parliament. In this case the incendiarists took the precaution to entirely isolate the place, cutting wires and destroying the telegraph office. There was fierce fighting in the village of Cushendall, where the summer residence of Mr Ronald McNeill, M.P., was burned. A large band of armed men took possession of the village at midnight and fought the police for hours. The police building was badly damaged. The police refused to surrender.

Drumnasole House, the residence of Turnleys, was also burned. When the police mustered after retreat they found one constable killed and four wounded, exactly half the garrison. So far as known four raiders were killed, seven wounded and ten captured. Ten are dead and ten seriously wounded as a result of shooting in Belfast on Saturday night. Firing was renewed on Sunday when three more were killed and fourteen sent to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. An armed gang shot a widow named Shields and her married daughter when they entered their house and were not able to find Mrs Shields’ son. SNIPING IN BELFAST. OUTRAGES AND REPRISALS. LONDON, May 2L (Received May 21, 5.5 p.m.) Snipers continue busily in Belfast Each outrage is followed promptly by a ferocious act of reprisal. A sniper stationed outside a Catholic chapel shot a worshipper when he was leaving. Five armed men overcame a watchman, in the corporation depot in Short Strand and set fire to the building. They flung a bomb which blew off the roof.