On This Day / April 30, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19210430
Reference Date
19210430
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 30th April 1921 looting targeted Belfast shops, Sinn Féin rallied support against Partition and MPs clashed over the Government’s reprisals policy. Edited by Éamon Phoenix
Gangs of Looters | On This Day – 30th April 1921
SPIRIT grocers continue to attract the unwelcome attention of predatory gangs in various parts of working-class districts in Belfast where the Unionists predominate.
Premises in which the business is carried on by unprotected women appear to possess a strong attraction for those in search of free drink and whatever else they can commandeer.
The premises of Mr Heggarty who trades as a spirit and family grocer at Fox Street, off the Newtownards Road, was made the object of an attack by a mob, the shop being stripped entirely of its contents.
Mrs Kelly, who carries on business as a spirit grocer at Ohio Street in the Shankill area, was the victim of a hold-up by six men on the same night.
She was threatened by the men that serious consequences would follow if she attempted to raise an alarm and was compelled to stand by while her property was looted.
Sinn Fein Election Notice
‘PARTITION Election – a general mass meeting of the electors from the four City Divisions will be held in St Mary’s Hall on Friday evening in support of the Sinn Fein candidates, viz: Sean Dolan (QUB); Sean MacEntee, TD, West; Councillor D McCullough, do.; Councillor D Barnes, South; Councillor A Savage, East and Michael Cardan, North.
‘Come in your thousands and support the cause of our country’s Freedom. Take your stand against Partition, for self-determination….’
Henry Defends ‘Barbarism’
IN THE House of Commons yesterday Mr Acland asked a question about the burnings in the town of Westport [County Mayo].
In reply Mr Denis Henry [Attorney- General for Ireland] said that the statement that a portion of Westport was burned was misleading.
The houses of one person and the contents of the houses of certain other persons were systematically destroyed by members of the Crown forces…
The persons were known to the police to be actively engaged in the rebel conspiracy.
The decision to destroy the property was taken by the responsible police officer after a brutal ambush…
Mr Hogge – Can the right hon. gentleman say when the Government is going to put an end to those methods of barbarism.?
Mr Henry -There are so many persons who could be brought to trial, it is difficult to do it.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Throughout the Belfast disturbances of 1920- 22, Catholic owned pubs and spirit groceries in Loyalist areas were regularly attacked and looted by sectarian mobs.
The Ulster Unionist Denis Henry’s blatant defence of the ‘reprisals’ in Westport shocked MPs who accused the government of a policy of barbarism.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein contested all four Belfast seats in the Partition Election but only had a realistic chance in the West.)
On This Day – 30th April 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210430
Reference Date
19210430
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 30th April 1921 looting targeted Belfast shops, Sinn Féin rallied support against Partition and MPs clashed over the Government’s reprisals policy. Edited by Éamon Phoenix
Gangs of Looters | On This Day – 30th April 1921
SPIRIT grocers continue to attract the unwelcome attention of predatory gangs in various parts of working-class districts in Belfast where the Unionists predominate.
Premises in which the business is carried on by unprotected women appear to possess a strong attraction for those in search of free drink and whatever else they can commandeer.
The premises of Mr Heggarty who trades as a spirit and family grocer at Fox Street, off the Newtownards Road, was made the object of an attack by a mob, the shop being stripped entirely of its contents.
Mrs Kelly, who carries on business as a spirit grocer at Ohio Street in the Shankill area, was the victim of a hold-up by six men on the same night.
She was threatened by the men that serious consequences would follow if she attempted to raise an alarm and was compelled to stand by while her property was looted.
Sinn Fein Election Notice
‘PARTITION Election – a general mass meeting of the electors from the four City Divisions will be held in St Mary’s Hall on Friday evening in support of the Sinn Fein candidates, viz: Sean Dolan (QUB); Sean MacEntee, TD, West; Councillor D McCullough, do.; Councillor D Barnes, South; Councillor A Savage, East and Michael Cardan, North.
‘Come in your thousands and support the cause of our country’s Freedom. Take your stand against Partition, for self-determination….’
Henry Defends ‘Barbarism’
IN THE House of Commons yesterday Mr Acland asked a question about the burnings in the town of Westport [County Mayo].
In reply Mr Denis Henry [Attorney- General for Ireland] said that the statement that a portion of Westport was burned was misleading.
The houses of one person and the contents of the houses of certain other persons were systematically destroyed by members of the Crown forces…
The persons were known to the police to be actively engaged in the rebel conspiracy.
The decision to destroy the property was taken by the responsible police officer after a brutal ambush…
Mr Hogge – Can the right hon. gentleman say when the Government is going to put an end to those methods of barbarism.?
Mr Henry -There are so many persons who could be brought to trial, it is difficult to do it.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Throughout the Belfast disturbances of 1920- 22, Catholic owned pubs and spirit groceries in Loyalist areas were regularly attacked and looted by sectarian mobs.
The Ulster Unionist Denis Henry’s blatant defence of the ‘reprisals’ in Westport shocked MPs who accused the government of a policy of barbarism.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein contested all four Belfast seats in the Partition Election but only had a realistic chance in the West.)
On This Day – 30th April 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210430
Reference Date
April 30, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 30th April 1921 looting targeted Belfast shops, Sinn Féin rallied support against Partition and MPs clashed over the Government’s reprisals policy. Edited by Éamon Phoenix
Gangs of Looters | On This Day – 30th April 1921
SPIRIT grocers continue to attract the unwelcome attention of predatory gangs in various parts of working-class districts in Belfast where the Unionists predominate.
Premises in which the business is carried on by unprotected women appear to possess a strong attraction for those in search of free drink and whatever else they can commandeer.
The premises of Mr Heggarty who trades as a spirit and family grocer at Fox Street, off the Newtownards Road, was made the object of an attack by a mob, the shop being stripped entirely of its contents.
Mrs Kelly, who carries on business as a spirit grocer at Ohio Street in the Shankill area, was the victim of a hold-up by six men on the same night.
She was threatened by the men that serious consequences would follow if she attempted to raise an alarm and was compelled to stand by while her property was looted.
Sinn Fein Election Notice
‘PARTITION Election – a general mass meeting of the electors from the four City Divisions will be held in St Mary’s Hall on Friday evening in support of the Sinn Fein candidates, viz: Sean Dolan (QUB); Sean MacEntee, TD, West; Councillor D McCullough, do.; Councillor D Barnes, South; Councillor A Savage, East and Michael Cardan, North.
‘Come in your thousands and support the cause of our country’s Freedom. Take your stand against Partition, for self-determination….’
Henry Defends ‘Barbarism’
IN THE House of Commons yesterday Mr Acland asked a question about the burnings in the town of Westport [County Mayo].
In reply Mr Denis Henry [Attorney- General for Ireland] said that the statement that a portion of Westport was burned was misleading.
The houses of one person and the contents of the houses of certain other persons were systematically destroyed by members of the Crown forces…
The persons were known to the police to be actively engaged in the rebel conspiracy.
The decision to destroy the property was taken by the responsible police officer after a brutal ambush…
Mr Hogge – Can the right hon. gentleman say when the Government is going to put an end to those methods of barbarism.?
Mr Henry -There are so many persons who could be brought to trial, it is difficult to do it.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Throughout the Belfast disturbances of 1920- 22, Catholic owned pubs and spirit groceries in Loyalist areas were regularly attacked and looted by sectarian mobs.
The Ulster Unionist Denis Henry’s blatant defence of the ‘reprisals’ in Westport shocked MPs who accused the government of a policy of barbarism.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein contested all four Belfast seats in the Partition Election but only had a realistic chance in the West.)
On This Day – 30th April 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.