-- The Cork Examiner, 5 November 1888

THE SHOOTING NEAR ATHLONE
  INQUEST ON THE VICTIM

An inquest was held at Coolvock, near Athlone, on Saturday,
on a young man named Kerrigan, a herd, in the employment of
Mr J Egan of Coolvock House, who was found shot in the breast,
face, and neck, on the highway near his home.  The doctor's
evidence was to the effect that death was instantaneous, the
hands of the deceased being in his pockets when found, so that
he had no time to protect himself or escape.  The jury returned
a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.
Four men are under remand in Mullingar Gaol on suspicion of being
connected with the crime.

 A NATIONALIST MEETING PROCLAIMED
ATTACK BY THE POLICE

The Nationalist meeting proposed to be held at Drumlish yesterday
was proclaimed late on Saturday night.  Captain Stokes, divisional
magistrate, arrived at Longford on Saturday evening, and a large
force of police came by train to Longford en route for Drumlish.
Mr Cox, M.P., also arrived by train, and was met at the station
by Head-constable Weir, who served him with a copy of the
proclamation.  Shortly afterwards Mr Peter Flood, Chairman of
the Town Commissioners, was addressing the crowd assembled at
Stafford's Hotel, when Captain Stokes ordered the meeting to be
dispersed.  The police charged in two bodies, and a scene of
indescribable confusion ensued.  The chairman of the Poor Law
Board was batoned and knocked down.  Several charges were made
before the crowd was dispersed.  The police and the XI Hussars
proceeded yesterday to Drumlish.

THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT AT ALDERSHOT

A Fermoy correspondent says :-- A letter received from a soldier
of the Bedfordshire Regiment, who were stationed for about ten
months in Fermoy, during which they acquired considerable
notoriety owing to their misconduct, states that on their arrival
in Aldershot last week some of their corps spoke disparagingly
of the people of Fermoy, whereupon some soldiers of the 94th and
102nd Regiments, who had experienced the uniform kindness and
courtesy of the townspeople of Fermoy, stood up warmly for them
and administered to the Bedfordshire lads a severe drubbing,
which they richly deserved, as during the latter portion of their
stay in Fermoy they did their utmost to cause riots of a very
serious nature.

The POLICE MURDER in MIDLETON
Visit of the Police to the Deceased's Relatives
Refusing to Parade the Police for Identification
The Inquest To-day and Funeral

Midleton, Sunday.

Every inquiry here, both yesterday and to-day, only goes the further
to show that the stabbing of Patrick Ahern by the police was a wanton and
most unprovoked act and an act for which there was not the slightest
justification.  On all sides the savage conduct of the police has been
unspairingly condemned and denounced, and a feeling has been created
against the members of the force, the bitter intensity of which, has not
often been experienced.  All unite in saying that an event so brutal has
never occurred in the town, and, that nowhere has what all regard as a
murder, pure and simple taken place under circumstances so utterly free
from provocation.  Investigation into the matters which led to the attacks
of the police, only sustain the view generally held that their interference
in the first instance, was not only uncalled for, but entirely unwarranted,
not to say illegal. 

A couple of policemen attempted to arrest for drunkenness a man (Mansfield)
who bears an excellent character for sobriety, and who, it is confidently
asserted, can be proved by dozens of reliable witnesses to have been
perfectly sober on the occasion, but forsooth, because he resisted what he
regarded as an outrage upon him, all the police in Midleton were subsequently
let loose upon the people to treat them in that manner with which almost
every city, town and village in Ireland are familiar.  Though knowing the
man well, and being aware that a simple summons would, at any time, find
him, Mansfield's captors forced him into the Messrs. Cashman's premises,
and insisted on keeping him there until the arrival of the local Head-
Constable (Higgins) and some constables.  It is stated that Higgins,
observing that Mansfield was not drunk, sent him about his business,
and as yet, the police, as far as outsiders can know, have taken no steps
to prove the charge on which they on that night sought to take him into
custody.  The scuffle of course attracted attention and a number of
people assembled on the street outside. 

The police in the meantime remained in the house, the owner of which
denies the allegation that he permitted any of them to get out of the back
entrance.  Reinforcements, headed by District Inspector Creaghe, arrived,
and the people were at once set upon and dispersed in all directions ; and
it is stated that such was the violence of the constabulary that an hour
and a half later they attacked individuals walking to their homes.
Attracted by the noise of the flying people, poor Ahern came on the
street, like many others, to learn what was going on, and he had barely
got on to the principal thoroughfare when he was bayonetted in the
abdomen.  Although fatally wounded, he managed to crawl round a neighbouring
corner in the direction of his home,  pursued by five or six savage men,
until almost exhausted from loss of blood, he sank on the footway insensible.
There he lay, says an eye-witness, while the policemen were brandishing
their swords over his body, and it was some little time before his friends
could get near him to remove him to his home, where he died twenty hours
later. 

It was not until yesterday that it became known that another life had been
sacrificed to police violence, and the excitement, already high, became
intense.  It was Market-day, and the town was thronged with people,
all more or less excited.  Strong indignation prevailed amongst all grades
of the townsfolk, as well as amongst their country neighbours, and at one
time the presence of a couple of constables in the streets stopped little
short of causing further trouble. No policemen were to be observed doing
the ordinary town duty, and when these two appeared on their way from the
barrack to the telegraph office, crowds at once collected, and followed
them in an excited manner, hooting, shouting, and calling out "There are
the murderers."  Whenever, later on, any of them became visible, this was
repeated to a more or less extent.  Mr Heard, the County Inspector,
arrived in town at eleven o'clock, and at once held consultations with
District-inspector Creaghe, Head-constable Higgins, and other policemen.
Shortly after his arrival Mr J P Leahy, solicitor, acting for the next of
kin of the deceased, waited on Mr Creaghe at the barrack. Mr Creaghe was
indoors with the county-inspector at the time, and on being sent for came
out, but, on seeing Mr Leahy, assumed a demeanour which boded ill for any
application that gentleman had to make.

"Do you know," said Mr Leahy, "that I am acting for the representatives of
the man who has been murdered?"  "Yes, I do," answered Mr Creagh ; "you
have told me so."  "Then, I want to know if you have telegraphed to the
coroner?" "Yes ; I have." "Have you received a reply?"  "I have not."
"I want also to know from you, "went on Mr Leahy, "if you have any
objection to parade your men for inspection as I have witnesses who will
identify the man who murdered Ahern?" "I won't allow them to be paraded at
the present moment," was Mr Creaghe's reply.  Mr Leahy then enquired if he
would inform him when he would do so, and Mr Creaghe evasively told him
that it was better to wait until the coroner came, and then abruptly
withdrew.

Half-an-hour later Inspector Heard, accompanied by some of his men in
plain clothes, went to the house of the dead man.  They succeeded in
getting hold of a sister of his, who was in a very distressed condition.
An attempt was made to elicit information from her, but all the success
accompanying the effort was a statement on her part that she had seen her
brother brought to the house.  All this time people were anxiously expecting
the arrival of the Coroner--Mr. Richard Rice, of Fermoy.  Anxiety in this
respect was all the greater in consequence of the fact that the body could
not be removed without his permission, and until it had been viewed by a
jury.  Besides this, it was considered necessary that a post-mortem
examination should be held, and this could not take place without orders
from the Coroner.  It was intended that the funeral should be carried out
to-day with great public display, should the necessary preliminaries
as regards the swearing of the jury and the viewing of the body &c., take
place, but the non-arrival of the coroner rendered this impossible. He had
been telegraphed for both by the police and Mr Leahy, but the reply was
that the coroner was from home. 

Meanwhile, as the day wore on, a number of Cork detectives, who had
travelled down by the morning train, were said to be making themselves
busy in the way of picking up information form the gossip of unsuspecting
persons, but the word was passed round and people were put upon their
guard lest an uncautious, but perhaps innocent expression might be
interpreted in a manner to their disadvantage.  It is said that another
man narrowly escaped being stabbed, the bayonet passing through his
trousers, but doing no further injury.  This man lives at some distance
from the town and was going down the street to the Chapel road where a
relative of his was being waked, when he was set upon.  Coming back to the
deceased, however, it may be interesting to mention that a very strong
allegation exists to the effect that he was mistaken for a man named
Hennessy, whose brother some time since gave a hearty drubbing to four or
five members of the constabulary who attempted to interfere with him, and
who though watched and hunted for several weeks succeeded in escaping
their vigilance.

Poor Ahern was well known to have been a quiet, inoffensive man ; he was
the eldest son of a large family, and almost their sole support.  His
father, who is still living, is an old man, an invalid, and gone beyond
his work.  Both he and his son had and have been for many years in the
employment of Mr P J Tattan, who is a large coal and corn merchant in the
town.  He gives them the highest character, and spoke in particularly
laudable manner of the good conduct of the unfortunate young man whose
life was so untimely ended. Numbers of people visited the deceased's
abode, and all last night and the previous one all his friends attended at
the wake.

The feeling in the town this morning was, if anything, more intense than
yesterday.  It was thought by many that the funeral would take place
to-day, and the result was that thousands of people filled the town to-day
with the intention of participating in it.  Amongst those who did attend
were--Mr W J Lane, M P, and Mr J Douglas Pyne, M P, both of whom deeply
interested themselves in the matter.  Most of the townspeople wore
mourning badges.  A joint meeting of the Midleton Young Ireland Society
and the National League was called for one o'clock to-day, but it was
subsequently decided that any such meeting would be premature for the
present, and none consequently took place.  In connection with the
same subject, an informal meeting of the Young Ireland Society was held on
Friday in their hall, under the presidency of Mr Richard Fitzgerald,
and there were amongst those present -- Messrs Michael Fitzgerald, John P
Leahy, solicitor ; John Ronayne, John O'Callaghan, Michael Lynch, John
O'Brien, M Dalton, J Lawton, J J Coffey, John Walsh, Wm Walsh, hon sec,
&c. Steps were taken towards raising the necessary funds to give the
deceased a suitable interment.

The guardians of the Midleton Union yesterday were inclined to pass a
resolution condemnatory of the conduct of the police, but as in the case
of the National League and Young Ireland Society, it was deemed better to
take no action for the present, pending the result of the inquest.

The matter was also before the Dungourney branch of the National League at
their meeting to-day, the Rev T O'Connell, PP, being in the chair.  The
following resolution was, on the motion of the Rev Father M'Donald,
seconded by Mr Cronin, unanimously adopted :-- "That we condemn in the
strongest manner the vindictive and wanton attack by the police on the
people of Midleton last Thursday evening, and that we hold them
responsible for the murder of poor Ahern to whose friends we tender the
most cordial sympathy ; and that as a mark of respect to his memory we now
adjourn."  The meeting did then immediately adjourn.

At both Masses this morning references were made to the occurrence by the
celebrating priests. Speaking to the last Mass at twelve o'clock Father
O'Brien said he had been requested by their venerable pastor, Canon
Fitzpatrick, to make reference to the occurrence--the very deplorable
occurrence--which had taken place in their midst within the last few
days.  It was not the Canon's wish, nor was it his own, to enter into the
circumstances which gave rise to that sad event.  These matters would form
the subject of a judicial inquiry, which would immediately be opened, when
the truth, he took it, would be elicited fully, and the blame laid upon
the proper shoulders.  With these things he had nothing to do, but he
wished on behalf of Canon Fitzpatrick, and on his own behalf, as well also
on behalf of the priests of the parish, to beg of them all, men and women,
old and young alike, to exercise the greatest restraint and the greatest
control over their feelings during these days ; to speak no word, to do no
act which would lead perhaps to a repetition of the sad work that had
already taken place.  He was sure and he spoke in the most solemn
way--that he need not say one word more to them.  He would leave it to
their own good sense, and they had plenty of good sense he was sure.  He
would leave it to their own good sense, and he begged them to be the
preservers of the peace themselves during these few days.  Clear the
streets in the evenings of all idlers and young children--they had no
business being there--and he would suggest too that the public houses,
which were the fruitful sources of evil, should be closed.  He again
appealed to them not to say a word or do any act which would bring more
misery upon the people of Midleton than that which had already been
caused. The same advice was repeated in substance by Father Burton at the
early Mass.

The Coroner arrived at 11 o'clock this morning, and, after a conversation
with District-Inspector Creagh, issued his precept and summons for the
attendance of jurors. He also gave directions for the holding of a
post-mortem examination, and this will be performed to-morrow (Monday) by
Dr Lawton and Dr O'Brien.  The inquest has been fixed for one o'clock, and
it is then probable that after the necessary preliminaries have been gone
through it will be adjourned to a convenient date in the near future.  The
evidence promises to be of a voluminous character ; and, consequently, the
inquiry may be of a comparatively extensive nature, Mr Redmond Barry has
been retained as counsel for the next of kin.

Some time between two and three o'clock the funeral will take place.  The
burial ground of the deceased is a couple of miles outside the town.  The
demonstration will be an extremely large one, and of an extent calculated
to mark the public disapproval of the laws under which an unoffending man
can be stabbed to death in the streets of his native town.

Extra police to the number of about thirty, with District-Inspector
Seymour, Mitchelstown, have been drafted into the town.  The majority of
them have been confined to barracks all day, and but eight of them, in
squads of four, were seen in the streets during the day. Wherever they
went they were groaned and hooted. No ordinary police duties were
performed, and the Catholic constables in town were not allowed, so far as
could be ascertained, to attend Mass.

Mr Redmond, R.M., Queenstown, was in town all day.  He had to be provided
with an escort--four men, one of the squads alluded to--to take him to the
station. In the evening, while passing along near Hayes' mill sods thrown
and the helmet of one policeman knocked off, nothing beyond this occurred.
When the train was leaving the station Mr Redmond was vigorously groaned.
No disturbance, however, took place either there or in the town, the
inhabitants of which, notwithstanding circumstances of exasperation,
managed to restrain themselves, in accordance with the advice of their
priests.  After the departure of the 4.30 train this evening for Cork the
police, who escorted Mr Redmond on returning from the train, were
vigorously hooted and followed by large crowds.  They marched down the
Main-street and without calling to the barracks proceeded onwards through
the streets and went to the residence of District Inspector Creagh. They
were only there for a short time when Head-constable Higgins came out of
Mr Creagh's residence and accompanied them back to the barracks, which is
at the upper end of Main-street.  On going up the hooting was repeated,
and the police, who had only their batons displayed, halted at intervals. 
It looked as if a baton charge would be made, but none took place.  At
eight o'clock a representative asked District Inspector Creagh if the
Coroner's precept was in his hands. He said it was. After night fall heavy
patrols of police paraded the streets, but no collision with the people or
disturbance of any kind took place.

Submitted by dja

--  Cork Examiner, 7 November 1888

THE POLICE MURDER IN MIDLETON

Midleton, Tuesday Night.

Shortly after the funeral procession started yesterday (Monday), from
town, a covered car was seen driving to the private offices of
District-Inspector Creaghe, R I C, which is underneath Mr Coppinger's
archway, at the end of Main-street, and Constable Swindle, the
incriminated policeman, was seen to get in and the car was driven up the
street.

To-day (Monday) [sic] a private communication was sent to Mr Leahy that
one of the policemen engaged in the charge had been removed, and he
immediately had Mr Creagh served with a notice cautioning Mr Creagh
against keeping the constable referred to away from the inquest, or as
peace officer of the district suffering said constable to be out of his
custody or control.  In the evening, however, the constable, who had gone
away yesterday, was seen walking in the streets this evening.

At between four and five o'clock this evening Constables Swindle and
Shortell, with four other policemen in charge of Sergeant Graydon, of
Cloyne, and accompanied by a detective, wait on Mr Creagh at his
office.  Important despatches were handed by Sergeant Graydon to Mr Creagh
who in turn hands them to District Inspector Seymour.  They were all
subsequently closeted for about two hours, and it is believed that
Constables Swindle and Shortell, who are very young policemen, were
getting initiated into the parts which they are to play in the inquest on
next Tuesday week.

Full patrols are about the streets this evening and were about town during
the day, and active communications are evidently going on between the
auhtorities and the heads of the local force.  The excitement is now
subsiding.--COR.

Large numbers of armed policemen were drafted from West Cork yesterday to
Cork City, but their ultimate destination was supposed to be Midleton,
where there is at present much excitement.

Submitted by dja

--  Cork Examiner, 10 November 1888

THE POLICE MURDER IN MIDLETON

In the House of Commons last evening, Mr. W. J. Lane, M.P., asked
the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Patrick Ahern was killed
in the town of Midleton by a bayonet wound inflicted by a policeman
on the evening of Thursday, 1st November ; whether Ahern swore, in
his dying deposition, that he was not aware of any distrubance
taking place until he was stabbed by a policeman ; whether, after
being stabbed, he was pushed along the street, thrown down, and
beaten by the police ; whether District-Inspector Creaghe ordered
the police to charge the people with fixed bayonets, notwithstanding
the reiterated protest of the Rev Father O'Donoghue, that there
was no justification of such conduct, as the disturbance was over ;
whether District-Inspector Creaghe refused to allow Mr E Hallinan,
J P, and Mr J P Leahy, solicitor for the next of kin, to inspect
the weapons of the police for the purpose of identification of
Ahern's assailant, and whether Mr Creaghe and the policeman in
assault will be suspended, pending an inquiry into their conduct.

The Chief Secretary for Ireland, in reply, said it would be
manifestly improper to discuss in the House of Commons the
circumstances of this case pending the termination of the
coroner's inquiry.  The reply to the last paragraph of the
question was in the negative.

EXPECTED PROSECUTIONS

Yesterday Mr Redmond, R M, with a person unkown arrived in
Midleton, and were engaged with the local police authorities for a
considerable time.  It is believed that there will be numerous
prosecutions at the suit of the police in connection with the
murderous affray of Thursday week. Sub-constable Swindle, who is
accused of having stabbed Ahern, paraded the streets ostentatiously
yesterday and was groaned loudly by a number of workmen.

MYSTERIOUS DROWNING AT BLACKROCK

Intelligence has reached the city that the body of Mr Henry
Haines, of Ballinlough, was found in the river near Blackrock
yesterday.  Mr Haines was seen going to Blackrock by the 11
o'clock train.  The deceased was for many years managing partner
of the firm of J C Atkins and Co, wine merchants, South Mall.

It is stated that for the past week Mr Haines appeared to be
suffering under great depression of spirits.  Coroner Horgan
will hold an inquest at Douglas Court-house at three o'clock
to-day.

Submitted by dja

-- Cork Examiner, 12 November 1888

The Sad Case of Death by Drowning at the Marina
The Inquest
           
At three o'clock on Saturday Mr Coroner Horgan sat in the Douglas Courthouse
and held an inquest on the body of Mr Henry Haynes, of Douglas, who was
found drowned in the River Lee on Friday. The deceased was principal
partner in the firm of Atkins & Co., wine merchants, South Mall ; and his
untimely death is much regretted by all who knew him. Mr George T Harley,
solr., appeared for the Imperial Accidental Insurance Company ; and Mr R
Deyos, solr., was present on behalf of the family of the deceased. The
following jury were sworn:-- Messrs Edward Eager (foreman), Patrick Barry,
Denis Duggan, Michael Sullivan, Wm. Cox, John Dorgan, Samuel Baker, Daniel
Cotter, Cornelius Mahony, John Leary, Thomas Cogan, E. R. Conran, and John
Driscoll.

Miss Mary Haynes, daughter of the deceased, was the first witness examined.
She said that her father left his residence on Friday morning at a quarter
to nine o'clock in hus usual health. At half-past two o'clock she heard of
his death.

Mr Etienue Mollard, an employe in Messrs Atkins & Co's, said that he saw
the deceased in the office on the South Mall on Friday morning about
twenty minutes past nine o'clock. Mr Haynes opened his letters as usual
and left orders for witness. Deceased was then in his usual health. He
knew Mr Haynes for fifteen years, and on Friday morning he was just the
same as ever he was.  Shortly before eleven o'clock Mr Haynes went to the
Provincial Bank to make a lodgment. In reply to Mr Deyos the witness said
that during the fifteen years he knew Mr Haynes his mental condition was
all right, and on Friday morning there was not the least change in him
; he was in his usual health and spirits. When Mr Haynes went out to make
lodgments in the bank he would often be out for a longer time than would
be necessary to do so, and he might have gone doing other business, or for
a walk. The deceased was fond of walking, and even on wet evenings he
would prefer walking home to taking a car.

Wm. Ahern, gardener in the employment of Mr. Ryan, near Blackrock, said
that about twenty minutes past eleven o'clock on Friday morning he saw a
gentleman going up along the Marina from Blackrock. He did not know the
gentleman, but he remarked to a boy along with him that (judging from the
beard) he was like Dr Cummins. He next saw the dead body at two o'clock on
the bank, and he was told it was the body of Mr Haynes. The body was about
three hundred yards from where he saw the gentleman walking previously. It
was ebb tide at the time.

John Cremen, fisherman, Blackrock, said he was in a boat on the river
about twenty minutes to twelve on Friday when he saw an object in the
water. The skirts of the coat were up and the head was down, there being
about eight feet of water at the spot. The body was floating, and where he
found it was about three hundred yards above the slip. Although it was ebb
tide the current would have carried the body up to the place it was found
supposing the deceased had gone down to the slip for any purpose and had
fallen in. When he found the body it was out of the current, and it was
therefore floating down with the ebb tide. The body was about a hundred
yards from the quay.

Sergeant John Dunne, Blackrock, deposed that at five minutes to twelve a
boy brought word to the barrack that a dead body was found in the river
off the Marina. Constable Grace and he went to the spot, and saw Cremin
towing it to the slip. On searching the body he found a gold watch, which
had stopped at twenty-seven minutes past eleven. He also found a key, a
pencil, and 2s 8d in money ; and in the water he found a tooth-brush.
Subsequently, he found 6d more in one of the pockets ; also a piece of
quill used as a toothpick. Dr R Burke, Douglas, said he examined the body
but had not made a post-mortem examination. There was a peacefull expression
on the face of the deceased, and there were no marks of violence. It
seemed to him that the man had died from shock. The hands were gloved, and
there was no appearance of any struggle having been made.

Submitted by dja

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