On This Day / December 24, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19201224
Reference Date
19201224
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 24th December 1920, Nationalist MPs challenged the conduct of Ulster Specials in Newry, while West Belfast women sent a heartfelt gift to honour support for Joe Devlin after a Commons attack. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Specials in Newry | On This Day – 24th December 1920
IN THE House of Commons yesterday Mr Joseph Devlin MP asked the Chief Secretary whether a body of Ulster Special Constables arrived in Newry on December 7, being the first to take up duty; whether on Friday night, 10th inst., they carried out raids on houses in the town; whether at one house the door was battered and a bullet fired through one of the windows; whether pedestrians were held up and where any person attempted to get away he was fired on; whether late on Sunday night there was a repetition of this conduct….
Sir Hamar Greenwood replied: According to a report which I have received a party of Special Constabulary arrived in Newry on 7th inst. and assisted the military in searching a number of houses there. One of the occupants would not open his door and it was therefore forced.
‘On the night of the 10th inst. a cordon was drawn round one district and persons searched. One man attempted to escape and, on his failing to halt on being called upon, a bullet was discharged over his head and apparently struck a window.
‘On the 12th inst. shots were fired over the heads of three other men who attempted to escape when challenged. No person was hit.
‘The Sinn Fein Hall and a stationer’s shop were burned down by unknown persons…. While the Specials went to the relief of Camlough barracks. No member of the Crown forces was concerned in the burning of these buildings.’
Gift for Valiant Labour MP
MISS Margaret Magee of the National Club, Belfast has sent the following letter to Mr Jack Jones MP, thanking him for his assistance to the West Belfast MP, Joe Devlin during the recent attack on him in the House of Commons:
‘Dear Mr Jones, The girls and women of the Falls Division beg of you to accept from them an Irish ham as a small token of their gratitude for and appreciation of your gallant conduct when their unconquered and unconquerable champion and friend, Mr Joseph Devlin was disgracefully attacked a few weeks ago in the House of Commons when faced with a hostile mob whose battle-cry was ‘Kill him’, has endeared you to our hearts…
‘The Women of West Belfast will be vindicated in their unflinching loyalty to John Redmond and Joseph Devlin in the coming of a free and happy Ireland. Margaret Magee, hon. sec.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: This letter betokens the genuine affection which was felt for ‘Wee Joe’ in west Belfast and especially among the mill girls.)
On This Day – 24th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201224
Reference Date
19201224
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 24th December 1920, Nationalist MPs challenged the conduct of Ulster Specials in Newry, while West Belfast women sent a heartfelt gift to honour support for Joe Devlin after a Commons attack. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Specials in Newry | On This Day – 24th December 1920
IN THE House of Commons yesterday Mr Joseph Devlin MP asked the Chief Secretary whether a body of Ulster Special Constables arrived in Newry on December 7, being the first to take up duty; whether on Friday night, 10th inst., they carried out raids on houses in the town; whether at one house the door was battered and a bullet fired through one of the windows; whether pedestrians were held up and where any person attempted to get away he was fired on; whether late on Sunday night there was a repetition of this conduct….
Sir Hamar Greenwood replied: According to a report which I have received a party of Special Constabulary arrived in Newry on 7th inst. and assisted the military in searching a number of houses there. One of the occupants would not open his door and it was therefore forced.
‘On the night of the 10th inst. a cordon was drawn round one district and persons searched. One man attempted to escape and, on his failing to halt on being called upon, a bullet was discharged over his head and apparently struck a window.
‘On the 12th inst. shots were fired over the heads of three other men who attempted to escape when challenged. No person was hit.
‘The Sinn Fein Hall and a stationer’s shop were burned down by unknown persons…. While the Specials went to the relief of Camlough barracks. No member of the Crown forces was concerned in the burning of these buildings.’
Gift for Valiant Labour MP
MISS Margaret Magee of the National Club, Belfast has sent the following letter to Mr Jack Jones MP, thanking him for his assistance to the West Belfast MP, Joe Devlin during the recent attack on him in the House of Commons:
‘Dear Mr Jones, The girls and women of the Falls Division beg of you to accept from them an Irish ham as a small token of their gratitude for and appreciation of your gallant conduct when their unconquered and unconquerable champion and friend, Mr Joseph Devlin was disgracefully attacked a few weeks ago in the House of Commons when faced with a hostile mob whose battle-cry was ‘Kill him’, has endeared you to our hearts…
‘The Women of West Belfast will be vindicated in their unflinching loyalty to John Redmond and Joseph Devlin in the coming of a free and happy Ireland. Margaret Magee, hon. sec.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: This letter betokens the genuine affection which was felt for ‘Wee Joe’ in west Belfast and especially among the mill girls.)
On This Day – 24th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201224
Reference Date
December 24, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 24th December 1920, Nationalist MPs challenged the conduct of Ulster Specials in Newry, while West Belfast women sent a heartfelt gift to honour support for Joe Devlin after a Commons attack. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Specials in Newry | On This Day – 24th December 1920
IN THE House of Commons yesterday Mr Joseph Devlin MP asked the Chief Secretary whether a body of Ulster Special Constables arrived in Newry on December 7, being the first to take up duty; whether on Friday night, 10th inst., they carried out raids on houses in the town; whether at one house the door was battered and a bullet fired through one of the windows; whether pedestrians were held up and where any person attempted to get away he was fired on; whether late on Sunday night there was a repetition of this conduct….
Sir Hamar Greenwood replied: According to a report which I have received a party of Special Constabulary arrived in Newry on 7th inst. and assisted the military in searching a number of houses there. One of the occupants would not open his door and it was therefore forced.
‘On the night of the 10th inst. a cordon was drawn round one district and persons searched. One man attempted to escape and, on his failing to halt on being called upon, a bullet was discharged over his head and apparently struck a window.
‘On the 12th inst. shots were fired over the heads of three other men who attempted to escape when challenged. No person was hit.
‘The Sinn Fein Hall and a stationer’s shop were burned down by unknown persons…. While the Specials went to the relief of Camlough barracks. No member of the Crown forces was concerned in the burning of these buildings.’
Gift for Valiant Labour MP
MISS Margaret Magee of the National Club, Belfast has sent the following letter to Mr Jack Jones MP, thanking him for his assistance to the West Belfast MP, Joe Devlin during the recent attack on him in the House of Commons:
‘Dear Mr Jones, The girls and women of the Falls Division beg of you to accept from them an Irish ham as a small token of their gratitude for and appreciation of your gallant conduct when their unconquered and unconquerable champion and friend, Mr Joseph Devlin was disgracefully attacked a few weeks ago in the House of Commons when faced with a hostile mob whose battle-cry was ‘Kill him’, has endeared you to our hearts…
‘The Women of West Belfast will be vindicated in their unflinching loyalty to John Redmond and Joseph Devlin in the coming of a free and happy Ireland. Margaret Magee, hon. sec.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: This letter betokens the genuine affection which was felt for ‘Wee Joe’ in west Belfast and especially among the mill girls.)
On This Day – 24th December 1920
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.