On This Day / August 19, 1920

Carson the Nihilist

Writing in the [Liberal] Daily News, Harry Jones, parliamentary correspondent, writes on the ‘great Ulster leader’ under the heading, ‘Sir Edward the Nihilist’: Sir Edward Carson is as empty of idealism as Lord Robert Cecil [Conservative] is rich in it.

‘Carson’s hold over the extreme Tory elements of the [Lloyd George] coalition is stronger than ever. Mr Bonar Law [Conservative leader] has always dreaded a hostile Carson on his flank.

‘However, Lord Wolmer’s suggestion a few weeks ago that Sir Edward Carson should be chosen Conservative leader in place of Bonar Law fell on stony ground.

‘It was a grotesque idea unless the Conservative Party wished to commit political suicide.

‘The elderly lawyer who has earned fame as leader of the Ulster extremists is a man of second-rate abilities who has made his way by sheer force of character and concentration on a single purpose – the defeat of Home Rule for Ireland.

‘Carson’s is a strong but barren personality. He has never contributed a single constructive idea to any political discussion. He is the great political nihilist of our time.’

[Note: British Labour and the Liberal press never let Carson forget his central role in forming and arming of the UVF, which they saw as the ultimate inspiration for the 1916 Rising. As the historian, Michael Laffan wrote, this man of the South ‘re-ignited the Fenian flame’ or revolutionary nationalism.]

Attack on police recalled

At Mullaghbawn, Co Armagh yesterday, Mr JF Small (Coroner) resumed the inquest into the death of Peter Charles McCreesh, Aughanduff who was shot dead following an Aeridheacht in Cullyhanna on Sunday 6 June.

On the same evening Sergeant Holland, who was in charge of two constables, was wounded in five places and died in a few days.

In a dying statement the sergeant stated that seven men passed in front of the police, called on them to put up their hands and when the police refused to do so the men fired into the crowd. He had not drawn his pistol until he had been twice injured.

Patrick McCreesh, brother of deceased, said they were sitting on a nearby wall. The only person he saw fire was the Sergeant.

Mr W Johnston (for the RIC) said a desperate attack had been made on the police by a gang of assassins.

If the jurymen had the backbone of a slug they would condemn it.

The jury returned a verdict of death caused by a bullet fired by Sergeant Holland.

They tendered sympathy to the relatives, adding: ‘We condemn the sending of police to such gatherings as Cullyhanna Aeridheach [Gaelic festival] believing their presence… causes trouble.’