§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORThe answer just given by the right hon. Gentleman replies to a part of the question of which I had given notice in my desire to call his attention to the incidents of the week-end in Ireland. I wish further to ask him whether it is the fact that on Saturday evening a military party in pursuit of a crowd of men in Dublin shot a young girl aged 12 years, killing her almost immediately, and also wounding a five-year old girl. Will the right hon. Gentleman also give us further details, if he has received them, of the case in which two civilians are alleged to have been killed by soldiers?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have no information as to the last question of the hon. Gentleman. In answer to the general question as to events during the week-end, I am glad to say that in four or five counties only in the whole of Ireland were there any serious outrages during that time. In three counties, however, there were serious outrages. In reference to the Dublin affair, I have received a telegraphic report to the effect that on Saturday evening, at about a quarter past five, two military lorries were passing down Charlemont Street, near Charlemont Avenue, in Dublin, when a group of five or six young men was observed to run away. They were ordered to halt, and on failing to do so three shots were fired. I deeply regret to have to say that as a result of the firing a young girl named Annie O'Neill, aged 8 years, was killed, and another girl, named Teresa Kavanagh, was slightly wounded. The loss of this young innocent life is deplorable, but I hope the House will agree with me in the view that the responsibility does not rest upon the soldiers.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs it the practice to fire on men who are running away?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMen who are ordered to halt and do not halt are fired at. I have further to state that in County Kildare Sergeant Brown and six constables proceeded to a farmer's house at Knochbounce, Athy district, which was 1507 reported to have been fired into at 11.30 p.m. on the 13th instant. When about 50 yards from the house, about 15 men came up a side road, flashed bicycle lamps on the police, and fired three shots. The police returned five shots, wounded Thomas Haslett, a shop assistant, and William Martin, a butcher of Kilcullen, and arrested five others. There were no police casualties.
Perhaps the House will allow me to read a long telegram giving an account of an ambush at Lisvername, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday last, which resulted in the murder of four constables and the wounding of two others. There appears to have been a prolonged interchange of shots. The lorry rushed past the, ambush, none, of the crew sustaining injury, although heavily fired upon, but the steering gear was put out of action by a bullet and the lorry swerved into the ditch, where it was again subjected to a heavy fusilade from the attackers, who were estimated to number 70. The police vigorously returned the fire from the floor of the lorry, and when this became untenable they got underneath it and kept on firing. It was when in this position that Constables O'Leary, Mackesey and Bustrock received their fatal wounds. Constable O'Leary's last words were, "Carry on." During the action the petrol tank of the lorry was perforated by a bullet and the escaping petrol caught fire and dropped on to the body of Constable Mackesey, which was badly charred. One of the constables is stated to have said when the fight was over to the attackers, "You don't want to burn us, take these bodies out," and it is alleged that the attackers refused any assistance, whereupon the constable, though himself wounded, at great risk dragged out the bodies of his fallen comrades from the now burning lorry. The attackers carried off the arms of the policemen, but no ammunition, as the defenders are believed to have exhausted it before surrender. News of the ambush was conveyed to the Bansha police station by one of the less injured constables, and later four lorries packed with soldiers and police arrived from Tipperary and scoured the district. Several arrests were made. There was a house near the scene of the ambush in which it was alleged the wounded were 1508 refused shelter. It was burned to the ground.
§ Mr. DEVLINArising out of the answer to the first part of the question, do I understand that the military fired upon five men, missed them all, and hit a girl and a child? Do I understand that they murdered a girl and a child?
§ Mr. DONALDMay I ask whether we could not adopt the suggestion made by an hon. Member opposite, and let these constables have armoured cars with machine guns, so that they may have some protection? There are armoured cars in Belfast which, I am sure, are not being used.
§ Mr. WATERSONMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has any information in connection with the burning of the creamery at Ballymaeelligot, near Tralee, and is he aware that in addition three adjacent homesteads were burned to the ground, quantities of hay and straw were destroyed, two men were shot dead, two wounded, and seven taken prisoners, including the doctor who was attending to the wounded?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI think that occurred last Friday, and by "weekend" I mean Saturday and Sunday. With reference to what is called the Ballymacelligot creamery, there was a conflict between the police and a large body of Sinn Feiners. In the conflict a number of Sinn Feiners were killed, and many others were taken prisoners.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWith reference to the shooting of the two children in Dublin, is it surprising that young men run away when they see an armoured car coming in Dublin, in view of the reckless firing which is continually taking place? [HON. MEMBERS: "Sit down!"] Now, Black and Tans, behave yourselves. May I ask whether it is a fact that if young men run away it is considered to be a sufficient excuse for firing at the crowd?
§ Mr. O'CONNORWith reference to the very important statement which the right hon. Gentleman made a few moments ago, to the effect that he considered it to be the duty of the soldiers to fire when people do not halt upon command, may I ask whether he has considered the possibility of people running 1509 away in terror, and whether there is not in many cases a risk of people being shot down who were quite innocent and who acted, not in disobedience to the order to halt, but in terror of the result of the soldier's firing?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI appreciate perfectly the situation in Ireland to-day. In many counties, though not in most, it is tragic. But when men are ordered to halt, surely, if they are innocent men, they will halt.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH - BENTINCKIs that any reason why you should shoot women?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt is a great tragedy when innocent people are killed or wounded.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYThen why do you justify it?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODUnfortunately, so long as the armed forces of the Crown are liable to attack by assassins, these most unfortunate tragedies will be one of the consequences.
§ Mr. DEVLINMay I ask how it was, when these men refused to halt and were fired upon, that none of these men were murdered, but an innocent girl and a little child were murdered? [Interruption.]
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYOrder. Black and Tans!
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONOrder, yourself; you are all black, and no tan!
§ Mr. DEVLINI hope the Sultan of Turkey will read about this performance in the House of Commons to-day in connection with the murder of women and little children. I want to ask the right hon. Gentleman why it was that when the military fired upon these men who were running away none of them were killed or injured or touched, whereas a young girl and a little child were killed and wounded respectively?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYBaby-killers!
§ Mr. DEVLINIs this a war against women and children?