On This Day / August 20, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
August 20, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 20th August 1921, an inquest found that 13-year-old Mary McGowan died after being fired at by the Special Constabulary in Belfast. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Specials Indicted | On This Day – 20th August 1921
THE adjourned inquiry into the death of Mary McGowan (13) who was fatally wounded at Derby Street, Falls Road on Sunday, July 10th was resumed by the City Coroner.
District Inspector Dignan (RIC) read the deposition of Mr Frank Harkin [Nationalist politician] in which he stated that on Sunday, 10th, at 4.30 p.m. he was in Derby Street and saw the deceased standing at her own door.
When her mother came to take her in three shots rang out from a motor lorry of Specials which was stationary in Ross Street and Mrs McGowan and the deceased fell as the result of gunshot wounds received.
Examined by Mr B Campbell – Did you see a lorry full of police in Ross Street? – Yes. At that time were there any people in Ross Street? – Not a sinner.
Before the appearance of the police in Ross Street did you hear any firing? – No, not for half an hour before that.
As soon as they turned into Ross Street, did they do anything? – Yes. The little girl that was killed looked up at the car and for five minutes nothing unusual occurred.
Then suddenly there was a burst of fire from the car and the little girl fell. Her mother was also shot.
To Mr Harkin: Was there any necessity for firing down that street? – Absolutely none at all.
At the time of the shooting were houses actually being burned by incendiaries in Norfolk Street and Cupar Street – Yes, two hundred yards from where the lorries were.
What was the religious persuasion of the people whose homes were burned? – They were all Catholics.
And these constables were then in Ross Street? – Yes, and fired deliberately at the little girl.
Head Constable Pakenham said he was in charge of the Specials. In Ross Street there was firing going on by both police and civilians.
Were there houses burned in Cupar Street? – There were, unfortunately.
A juror: You would not swear that this girl was not killed by your men? – Oh no. I would not swear that and no matter how the little girl was killed, I am very sorry for her.
The jury found that Mary McGowan, 16 Derby Street, aged 13 years, ‘died of a gunshot wound in the thigh, the result of being fired at by the Special Constabulary.
We think in the interests of peace the Special Constabulary should not be allowed into a locality occupied by people of an opposite denomination.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Incidents such as the unprovoked killing of little Mary McGowan by Specials in an armoured car convinced nationalists of the unacceptability of this deeply sectarian force.)
On This Day – 20th August 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.