RIOT IN IRELAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 11

RIOT IN IRELAND

rival factions clash OUTBREAKS OF LAWLESSNESS. BATON CHARGES BY POLICE. The worst aspects of the old-time Irish party fueds were revived in County Armagh on August 15, when the annual Lady Day demonstrations of the Ancient Order of Hibernians provoke outbreaks of lawlessness, fighting, looting and burning. In a vain attempt to prevent the demonstrators from reaching Armagh City, gangs of armed men cut the Great Northern Railway near Richhill and forced the driver of a goods train to drive his engine on to tho damaged line, cut telegraph lines and felled trees across tho main roads. Before the demonstration* was due to begin, however, tho railway line had been repaired and police with axes had cleared tho roads. Several thousand Hibernians attended it, but afterwards serious trouble developed between rival factions, and the police had to make repeated baton ’charges. Following the cutting of the railway line, 20 men armed with rifles and revolvers held up a goods train at 4 a.m. “1 saw a red light being waved and a bonfire on the side of the line,’’ said the driver. “As soon as I stopped the engine was surrounded by men with revolvers. They ordered me to uncouple the engine, but 1 protested. The revolvers were levelled at mo and the fireman was directed to get down nnd uncouple tho engine. He had to obey. “As soon as tho engine was uncoupled the men directed me to g ’t. up stfeam and drive the engine over a portion of the track from which a rati was removed. I again protested, but they said, ‘lf you don’t vou’ll get a bullet.’ 44 A shot was fired in the air. | go) up steam, but not very much, and as s'' n ” as the engine moved

permanent way I jumped out on the track. ” The engine left the rails but did not fall and block tho down line, as was rhe apparent intention, and a breakdown gang was able to restore double inc working early in the afternoon. Later in the day 12,000 people at tended the demonstration at Armagh It passed off quietly, but afterward; rioting broke out when tho police al tempted to stop a party of Hiberniam from passing down a Unionist thorough fare. Amid much shouting ot party war cries and singing of party songs, stones were thrown and several people were injured. Extra police were rushed to the scene and for several hours there wore intervals of baton charges, the mobs dispersing only to collect again. The rioting went on until nearly mid-? nighi !j|id several ring’cadors were rested.