On This Day / November 11, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
November 11, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 11th November 1921, Lloyd George faced possible resignation over James Craig’s opposition to an all-Ireland parliament, while Belfast courts heard IRA conspiracy charges and compensation claims. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
PM May Resign | On This Day – 11th November 1921
THE attitude assumed by Sir James Craig leaves the Press Association to the belief that the result of tomorrow’s meeting of the Northern Cabinet and Mr Lloyd George will be a failure.
Should the Belfast representatives decline to fall in with the almost unanimous desire of the British press, it is expected that Mr Lloyd George will at once announce that he is unable to carry on and will place his resignation in the hands of the King. Four members of Craig’s Cabinet have crossed to London.
Raid on ‘IRA Prison’
YESTERDAY afternoon in the Belfast Custody Court, three members of the IRA were indicted with conspiring to murder one, Arthur Hunt in Belfast. The prisoners stated: ‘As soldiers of the IRA, we refuse to recognise the Court’.
The raid by police on the ‘Republican Prison’ was told by DI Nixon. He said that he went to Upper Kent Street, accompanied by a party of police.
They found [the defendants] Cunningham and Loughran upstairs and a man named Arthur Hunt who had a bandage on his head and appeared to be in a weak position.
There was a field wireless and telephone set and a parcel was labelled ‘Third Battalion IRA’.
Hannahstown Burning Case
JUDGE Thompson, KC yesterday resumed the hearing of claims for compensation for malicious damage in County Antrim.
Rev P Boyle, PP, Hannahstown claimed £1,200 for the destruction of a building at Hannahstown known as ‘Hamill Hall’ on June 11,1921.
Mrs Sarah Walsh said two of the men who entered her house were dressed in uniform like that of policemen and they had rifles on their shoulders and revolvers. The Judge allowed £300 for the hall.
IRA Ambush Recalled
AT BALLYMONEY Quarter Sessions, before Judge Bates, KC, Special Constable Thomas Watson, Lagmore, County Down claimed £2,000 compensation for injuries sustained at Corkey on 26th May last.
Constable Donald Walsh, Loughguile, claimed £3,000 damages for injuries received on the same occasion. Constable Watson (22), a stonecutter, said he joined as a Special Constable of the RIC in January last.
On 26th May witness was stationed at Loughguile barracks and went out with Constable Walsh on patrol. When they were near where the old barracks was burned, some persons behind the hedge gave the order: ‘Hands up.’
Failing to comply, a volley was fired at witness and Constable Walsh, wounding them.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: LLOYD George had promised Griffith and Collins that if Craig rejected an all-lreland parliament, he would resign.
Craig stood firm on his ‘Ulster rock’, forcing the ‘Welsh Wizard’ to float the idea of a Boundary Commission to resolve his dilemma.)
On This Day – 11th November 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.