15th December 1921
Royal Irish Constabulary
Report on incident
at Carlow Railway Station
on
15th December 1921.
Constable Ronayne and Constable Morrissey were on duty near the
weighing machine at Carlow Railway Station, between two and three
o'clock in the evening, when a group of eight or nine men came on
the platform, one of them rushed over to them and shouted "hands up"
and then presented a revolver and fired point blank at Constable
Ronayne. The bullet struck him in the chest and he fell on the
platform. While he was down, he received some very severe treatment
with some of the men kicking him on the ground. Constable Morrissey
was dragged to the ground and kicked about the place.
When the attackers cleared off Constable Morrissey went to
Ronayne's assistance and with the aid of a civilian managed to drag
the wounded man several hundred yards to the County Infirmary. He
was later transferred to Steeven's Hospital in Dublin where he made
a good recovery.
Constable Ronayne had joined the British Army in 1914 and fought
all through the war in France. After being demobilised in 1919 he
joined a shipping company. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary on
the 15th March 1920. His wage was £180 a year while in the police.
In January 1922 Constable Ronayne was awarded £2,200 in damages in a
Malicious Injury claim at Carlow Court. The award was levied off the
County-at-Large.
The above is a true and
accurate transcript of the original document.
Footnote from Michael Purcell
This incident took place in December 1921 during the Truce,
therefore Constables Ronayne or Morrissy should not have been
"on duty" as stated in the report, and they were probably
unarmed as the Royal Irish Constabulary were technically
confined to barracks during this period. Unless they were
working undercover it would seem they were waiting for a train
when they were attacked. But this report was compiled by the
Irish Republican Police who may be trying to justify the action
of the "group of men" who attacked them by claiming that the
Constables were "on duty".
MP.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nationalist and Leinster Times. December 1921.
A Prisoner's Home-Coming.
Rousing Welcome.
On Friday night John McDarby, Graiguecullen, arrived in Carlow
by rail, having completed his full term of twelve months, in
Mountjoy, as the result of a Court-martial, at which he was
sentenced on a charge of drilling with members of the Carlow
Fianna. Young McDarby looked in the best of spirits, and seemed
very little the worse of his long incarceration. He was met at
the station by a large crowd of friends, admirers and
sympathisers and a enthusiastic demonstration, impromptu took
place. As he was escorted home there was much enthusiasm, and it
was certainly some consolation for the young patriot and his
friends to witness such a heartening and inspiring welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terror. December 1921
Nationalist. December 1921.
Notice --- Important.
- I request the public in general to forward me any
information which may lead to the discovery and arrest of the
robbers who are going loose in Carlow town and county.
- I guarantee that, if such information is forth-coming there
will be a sudden halt to the march of those criminals, and that
they will be drastically dealt with by the Republican
Authorities.
- It is inadvisable that sums of money be taken on delivery
vans as the robbers seem intent on watching those vehicles for
loot.
- In case of robberies of any description persons should
immediately inform the nearest I.R.A. authorities so that they
may get on the track of the criminals.
- Every man should do his up-most to defend his own property
when no other help is at hand.
- Motor cars should never halt at night on any account.
- (signed) Liam Stack, Commandant, Irish Republican Army.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[
Police in Carlow ]
- Transcribed by M. Purcell c2010.
- Old newspapers in the PPP.
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