DAMAGES AWARDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 1

DAMAGES AWARDED.

General O’Duffy Wins Case Against Police. HIGH COURT DECISION. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrig-h t. (Received May 28, 11.15 am.) DUBLIN. May 27. The High Court awarded General O’DufTy, leader of the Blue Shirts, £2OO damages and costs against Police

Superintendents Murray and Flynn for assault and false imprisonment on the occasion of General O’Duffy’s visit to Westport on December 17, 1933. j General O’Duffy, leader of the United Ireland Party, was arrested for wearing a blue shirt at a political meeting at Westport. County Mayo. The arrest was effected after a pitched battle had been waged between his supporters and 100 police, who had thrown a cordon around the adjacent streets. With strong reinforcements within easy call, steel-helmeted and gasmasked soldiers patrolled Westport in lorries. The meeting progressed quietly until a cavalcade of 100 heralded the approach of General O’Duffy, whom the police had stopped a mile outside the town. General O’Duffv. with supporters on horseback, entered Westport by another road. The cordon again stopped him, declaring that he must not speak while wearing such a garb. He did not resist, but his cheering supporters heaved him shoulder-high and charged the police. Despite the use of batons, they rushed him to the platform, knocking down men and women. General O'Duffy, amid yells and counter-yells, seized a brief opportunity and shouted: “People of Ireland; be calm. Our cause will go on, though I am imprisoned. We shall win.’’ The police fought through the crowd and stormed the platform. General O’Duffy was surrounded by 100 police and soldiers and taken to the police barracks, the rearguard repelling would-be rescuers. A strong guard encircled the barracks.