On This Day / September 23, 1920

Summary: On This Day – 23rd September 1920, reprisals continued with the killing of Councillor Lynch in Dublin, shots fired from a Belfast tramcar, and shipyard strikes over pogrom expulsions. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix.

Reprisals Continue

Mr Thomas Lynch, solicitor, Finestown, Killmallock, a co-opted member of Limerick County Council, was killed by uniformed men in the Exchange Hotel, Dublin yesterday morning.

At about 3 am the night porter heard knocking at the front door.

He called out that there were no apartments vacant and a voice answered that those outside were military and that they wanted to examine the register.

The porter accordingly admitted the men who wore trench coats and khaki caps. He was at once placed against the wall while some of the intruders examined the register.

Two remained at the door while others went upstairs. They returned soon afterwards and, no shots having been heard, the porter did not for a moment suspect the terrible crime that had been perpetrated.

Those in the hotel only learnt of the occurrence for the first time when some policemen called and asked where the body was.

The police then took up duty at Room Number 6 which had been occupied by the deceased. The belief is freely expressed that Councillor Lynch was stabbed to death.

Fired From Tramcar

Exciting incidents were witnessed on Belfast’s Springfield Road yesterday evening as a result of which a young man is at present in custody.

A tramcar containing a number of shipyard workers was passing and when it arrived at the corner of Kashmir Road, a person fired a revolver from the top of the car.

One of the passengers was injured about the face. The car proceeded on its way.

Subsequently, the police arrested a young man named Walter S Dobbin who resides at ‘Fighting Fifth’, Springfield Parade on a charge in connection with the firing of a revolver from the top of the tram.

Efforts To End Pogrom

THE Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners in Manchester has issued instructions to the members of their organisation in Belfast to withdraw their labour on Saturday next from nine of the leading shipbuilding and engineering firms in the city. The notice affects about 4,500 workers.

The Executive Council said several hundred members of the Society had been driven from the shipyards during the recent troubles and interviews with members of the firms have failed to secure their reinstatement.

The resumed conference between representatives of Harland and Wolff, Limited and the Vigilance Committee took place yesterday.

The Vigilance Committee (otherwise the [loyalist] ‘Soviet’) considered the firm’s representations.

These all pointed to the risk of a general hold-up of the works caused by the action of the extremists.

The latter are apparently still seeking to dominate the situation and to fight down ‘moderate opinion’.

Further Reading:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive