THE FERMOY RIOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19810, 29 November 1919, Page 2

THE FERMOY RIOT.

TROOPS WRECK SHOPS. VENGEANCE FOR MURDER, further details of the wrecking of shops m fiermoy, the famous garrison) town in County Cork, Ireland) by infuriated troopo came to hand by the last mail. The incident followed an attack upon troops in wliioh a soldier lost ms life. A correspondent describing the event and tho attack on the troops which preceded it savs- . In the quietude of the Sabbath moming, with the sun shining brightly upon the sleepy old town of Fermoy, so. well known to men who have soldiered much m Ireland, a party of sixteen of the Shropshire Regiment swung gaily along on their way to Divide eervioa at tho Methodist Ohurch. The custom ,iu Ire" laud, during tho last few years is that all parties of soldiers when they go into the streets on parade must take their equipment. On this occasion the rule was observed, tho men carrying rifles Pud bayonets. There were few persons about, and, needless to say, the military apprehended. no danger,, much less that they were marching into it with wide-open eyes. Suddenly four motor-cars dashed round the comer, and in a twinkling were abreast of the unsuspecting church party. Quick as thought the rest happened. The Sinn. Femers surrounded the soldiers, and called upon them to surrender their arms in the name of tha Imh Republic. Their assailants Carried revolvers and staves, their firearms befog used freely, limy had tile soldiers at a complete disadvantage, for the latter appear to have had no* ammunition. Thirteen rifles and one bayonet were thrown into the motor-cars, which forthwith mado off at. top speed. Spectators say that one of the Sinn Feinora had blood dripping from a wound, and had to bo Helped into the ear. As the motors left the town men kept up a fire from the backs of the oars, and the attempts of the police to give chaso were abortive. Immediately the officer in command of the troops learned of the outrage he turned out thred regiments” of Soldiers, the town, was surrounded and a search of tho county began. Motorcars and armoured cars set out in pursuit, but just outside tho town in .the direction that the Sinn Feiners had taken they found felled trees across the road, add wore delayed. It was also found that tho telegraph wires had been cut. Eighteen aeroplanes from tho flying station took up the chase, but they failed to find a- trace of the flying motor-cars Fermoy was soon destined to experience a bitter revenge for the blood of the unfortunate man. Soldiers of tho Shropshire Light Infantry and the Royal Field Artillery, to the number of 260, led', it is alleged, by an officer in mufti, who, it is said, has since been placed under arrest, went on a wrecking expedition, They smashed windows, looted shops, and wrecked business premises, taking 2000 pairs of boots out of one establishment, and causing damage to the extent of thousands of pounds. The jewellery establishment of IV, Barbel’ and 00.. the head of wliioh was foreman of the corouer’a jury that returned what was practically on open verdict at tho inquest on Private Jones, was almost completely demolished. The more valuable of the articles in Barber and Co. s window wore taken, but owing to a previous attack upon the house the back of the door had been sheeted with steel, and to tills precaution is due tho fact that the attacking party, though they used trench tools to gain admission, failed! to open a way to other departments of tho establishment. In all severity or eighty shops were completely wrecked. Tho police were powerless to restrain tho soldiers, and a reign of terror lasted till near midnight, when a strong body of military pickets, bearing arms, arrived, and order was gradually restored, All business was suspended in tbo town next day. and carpenters were busy boarding up shattered shop fronts. Fermoy looked like a town tint was needing extensive repairs, and was getting some of them done. Glass, boots, shoes, broken crockery, loaves of bread, fruit, books, quantities of butter, broken eggs, and bottles of medical preparations were scattered along tho streets. A quantity of the looted property was thrown into the Blackwa.ter River, which flows past the town, and men In boats were busy in fishing it out. Labourers erected barricades along the streets for protection in case of further rioting.