IRISH REPUBLICAN RAID.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16732, 13 May 1922, Page 10

IRISH REPUBLICAN RAID.

ON THE ULSTER BORDER. A resident of Christchurch, who is a brother of the Mr Bentley mentioned in the following narrative, for Wards a. newspaper clipping giving the story of a. typical raid on the l’lster border:— hlourne )lanor or, as it is known loCally, Orier House, «70. Armagh, which was seized and burned down by: anned and masked men m the carry hours of a Sunday morning, is the property of a. well-known Bradford mnn. Mir Joseph Bentley. and at. the time of the raid was in the occupation of a son of that. gentleman. Mr Henry F. Bentley. who is managing director of the Poultry Grit Pulrerislng (30., Ltd , in which capacity he has resided in Ireland fqr about twelve years. Monroe l\‘[anor was purchased bv Mr Joseph Bentley some years ago as a. residence. For his son and as a holiday residence for himself in the. summer months. The house is a. substantially built two—storey dwelling; it stands in its own grounds, about. seven ecres in extent, and is picturesqncly situated mid way bEtwcen Greenore and Newry, at the foot of ’l‘oogaragh, hotter known as the Flag Stall )fountain. lt fronts to Carlingford Lough and is almost opposite to Narrow \Vater Castle and Warrenpoint. the well'knowu Trish Watering place. The )[ournn Bfoun~ tains form a. striking 'and beautiful background. ‘ ' .‘MIDNIGHT VISITORS. A _point of significance. afiordin,; perhaps a. clue to the destruction of the house, is that Monrne Manor is practically on the ['lster border, A stream that rims alongside being the dividing line between Ulster and the Irish Free State. ‘ The first intimation Mr Bentley had of the destruction of his property was a. telegram from his son on Monday: " The )Tanor raidcd and gutted Saturday midnight. All safe and fairly well. \Vi‘iting fully. No need for worry.” In a letter written subsequently. Mr H. I’. Bentley said: “The facts are simply these. .\t 11 P. 111.. or think ahuuts, when all had retired exccpt myself, I heard footsrens making; fox the French window. which was knock-9d loudly with demands for admittance. I shouted to whoever was there to no to the front. door, which I immediately opened. At once the house was rushed. and l was under arrest. There were about fiftv men. all Heavily arniczl and masked. l was asked who was in the house, and told them. The one in charge sent other< to confirm my statement. l was told to get all out of bod quickly. 31y wife had already got up. and came down in her nightdress. Her mother. Mrs Haley, had unfortunately hecn laid up in bed with influenza for three or four days. and we had a job with her. A (‘Olll’l/ETE \\'R»ECl\'. “ “'9 all got out. very scantily clad. with blankets over us, myself pushing the pram with Patricm (a daughter) carrying the baby. Joe (a son) was as plucky as anyone. The officer then deputed four or five to take us to I‘l’Evoy's cottage, where we were locked in under guard. Long before we got to the )I'l‘lvoy‘s all the windows had been smasher. m. and the awful business begun. Sonne furniture was thrown out, hut all is a. complete wreck—roof in. etc «except the nut.buildings." The account of the outrage in “ The Newifiv Reporter" states that the family was given four minutes in which to clear out. It says that .‘l’r Bentley was informed “' that there. was no personal grievance against himself. but that the destruction of the house. was regarded as a necessity owing to its situation." The übjert of tho raiders. it, is said. was to prevent the. house from heing commandeered for the accommodation of fnrccs of the Northern Parliament.