On This Day / October 6, 1920

Summary: On This Day – 6th October 1920, Captain Alan Lendrum was buried in Tyrone; troops dispersed a Sinn Féin court in Navan; Lisburn’s riots drew a shocking military comment. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix.

Slain RM Buried in Tyrone | On This Day – 6th October 1920

THE remains of Captain Alan Lendrum, Resident Magistrate whose body was found in a coffin at a wayside railway station in County Clare, were interred at Kilskeery, County Tyrone on Sunday.

Detachments of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, Bedford Regiment and RIC were present and Ulster Volunteers lined the avenue through which the cortege passed to Kilskeery Protestant Church.

The coffin, which was draped with a Union Jack and bore the deceased’s sword and cap.

Sinn Féin Court Dispersed

What was described as the Sinn Féin Quarter Sessions for North Meath opened in Navan yesterday.

Just as the second case was opening, a party of the South Wales Borderers, accompanied by RIC men, marched into the hall and guarded all exits.

The Head Constable asked was the Court proceeding and on being told that it was, he said that they had no right to hold a Court and that he had come to disperse it and to seize all documents.

General’s Shocking Statement on Lisburn Riots

To the Editor:

Sir, With reference to the discussion at the meeting of Lisburn Urban Council regarding the attitude of the military and the alleged want of action on the part of the Magistrates during the recent disturbances, I pointed out certain salient points.

I emphasised the fact that a member of the Council (Mr Edward Donaghy), who is also a Magistrate, waited upon General Hackett-Pain on two occasions on the day, immediately following the murder [of D I Swanzy] and when the disturbances were at their height, begging him to send the necessary military force to quell the trouble.

Mr Donaghy informed me that, on his second visit, the General made use of the following extraordinary remark: ‘How are we to distinguish between Sinn Féiners and Loyal Catholics?’

In face of this attitude of the authorities, it is no wonder that the town was wrecked and that the mob were able to get the upper hand.

The General had visited the town on the day of the murder and the day after and [knew] the state of affairs.

– Yours,

Thomas Sinclair, Rosslyn, Lisburn.

Irish History: On This Day – 6th October 1920

Further Reading:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive