On This Day / December 30, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19201230
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19201230
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Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 30th December 1920, MPs clashed over civilian killings and Crown force tactics in Ireland, as grim details emerged of Black and Tan raids in Monaghan. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
‘Rules of War’ | On This Day – 30th December 1920
IN the House of Commons yesterday, Mr T. P. O’Connor (Nationalist, Liverpool) asked the Chief Secretary whether, since the proclamation by General Macready [GOC] against reprisals and the killing of civilians, there had been any cases of either; how many civilians had been killed by the forces of the Crown since last Saturday.
Sir Hamar Greenwood – The number of civilians killed since the 19th inst. was twenty. Six were shot dead by the forces of the Crown. There were three cases of murder by unknown persons, four persons were shot dead while attempting to escape. Two were shot after refusing to halt.
Mr Jeremiah MacVeagh (Nationalist, South Down) – Can the right hon. gentleman make any statement with reference to the murders of James Looby and William Delaney by the forces of the Crown whilst in custody, and is he aware that since the murders, Looby’s brother was also dragged out and murdered by the forces of the Crown?
Sir H Greenwood – It is impossible for me to answer all those questions. I do my best.
Mr Devlin – When does [the Chief Secretary] propose to take steps by forces of the Crown to stop this constant murder of civilians, and is it not the fact that this shooting of people because they refuse to hold up their hands is simply an excuse for murder? (Cries of ‘No’.)
Mr MacVeagh – Is it a fact that the military authorities in Ireland have decided on a policy of carrying leaders of the Sinn Féin Party in lorries in order to prevent attacks on the lorries (cheers) and is the right hon. gentleman aware that during the South African War [1899-1902] the present Prime Minister strongly denounced the practice as barbarous and Unchristian?
Sir H Greenwood – That is the policy carried out in certain parts of Ireland. (Cheers.)
Mr Devlin – With all the forces of the British Army at his back, can the Chief Secretary not conceive some more humane plan of fighting this battle than to carry on a barbarous policy of this sort?
Colonel Archer Shee – Is it not a fact that some of the civilians alluded to were murdered by the Sinn Féin rebels themselves?
Mr Devlin – Shut up, you fool!
Black and Tans in Monaghan
THE house of a Mrs Martin, Carrickmacross (Co Monaghan) was raided on Friday night by a number of Black and Tans.
Mrs Martin’s son, who was ill and in bed, was forced to get out of bed and strip naked on the floor and his body was examined, apparently for wounds. He was severely questioned as to his whereabouts on the previous Saturday night.
On This Day – 30th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201230
Reference Date
19201230
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 30th December 1920, MPs clashed over civilian killings and Crown force tactics in Ireland, as grim details emerged of Black and Tan raids in Monaghan. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
‘Rules of War’ | On This Day – 30th December 1920
IN the House of Commons yesterday, Mr T. P. O’Connor (Nationalist, Liverpool) asked the Chief Secretary whether, since the proclamation by General Macready [GOC] against reprisals and the killing of civilians, there had been any cases of either; how many civilians had been killed by the forces of the Crown since last Saturday.
Sir Hamar Greenwood – The number of civilians killed since the 19th inst. was twenty. Six were shot dead by the forces of the Crown. There were three cases of murder by unknown persons, four persons were shot dead while attempting to escape. Two were shot after refusing to halt.
Mr Jeremiah MacVeagh (Nationalist, South Down) – Can the right hon. gentleman make any statement with reference to the murders of James Looby and William Delaney by the forces of the Crown whilst in custody, and is he aware that since the murders, Looby’s brother was also dragged out and murdered by the forces of the Crown?
Sir H Greenwood – It is impossible for me to answer all those questions. I do my best.
Mr Devlin – When does [the Chief Secretary] propose to take steps by forces of the Crown to stop this constant murder of civilians, and is it not the fact that this shooting of people because they refuse to hold up their hands is simply an excuse for murder? (Cries of ‘No’.)
Mr MacVeagh – Is it a fact that the military authorities in Ireland have decided on a policy of carrying leaders of the Sinn Féin Party in lorries in order to prevent attacks on the lorries (cheers) and is the right hon. gentleman aware that during the South African War [1899-1902] the present Prime Minister strongly denounced the practice as barbarous and Unchristian?
Sir H Greenwood – That is the policy carried out in certain parts of Ireland. (Cheers.)
Mr Devlin – With all the forces of the British Army at his back, can the Chief Secretary not conceive some more humane plan of fighting this battle than to carry on a barbarous policy of this sort?
Colonel Archer Shee – Is it not a fact that some of the civilians alluded to were murdered by the Sinn Féin rebels themselves?
Mr Devlin – Shut up, you fool!
Black and Tans in Monaghan
THE house of a Mrs Martin, Carrickmacross (Co Monaghan) was raided on Friday night by a number of Black and Tans.
Mrs Martin’s son, who was ill and in bed, was forced to get out of bed and strip naked on the floor and his body was examined, apparently for wounds. He was severely questioned as to his whereabouts on the previous Saturday night.
On This Day – 30th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201230
Reference Date
December 30, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 30th December 1920, MPs clashed over civilian killings and Crown force tactics in Ireland, as grim details emerged of Black and Tan raids in Monaghan. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
‘Rules of War’ | On This Day – 30th December 1920
IN the House of Commons yesterday, Mr T. P. O’Connor (Nationalist, Liverpool) asked the Chief Secretary whether, since the proclamation by General Macready [GOC] against reprisals and the killing of civilians, there had been any cases of either; how many civilians had been killed by the forces of the Crown since last Saturday.
Sir Hamar Greenwood – The number of civilians killed since the 19th inst. was twenty. Six were shot dead by the forces of the Crown. There were three cases of murder by unknown persons, four persons were shot dead while attempting to escape. Two were shot after refusing to halt.
Mr Jeremiah MacVeagh (Nationalist, South Down) – Can the right hon. gentleman make any statement with reference to the murders of James Looby and William Delaney by the forces of the Crown whilst in custody, and is he aware that since the murders, Looby’s brother was also dragged out and murdered by the forces of the Crown?
Sir H Greenwood – It is impossible for me to answer all those questions. I do my best.
Mr Devlin – When does [the Chief Secretary] propose to take steps by forces of the Crown to stop this constant murder of civilians, and is it not the fact that this shooting of people because they refuse to hold up their hands is simply an excuse for murder? (Cries of ‘No’.)
Mr MacVeagh – Is it a fact that the military authorities in Ireland have decided on a policy of carrying leaders of the Sinn Féin Party in lorries in order to prevent attacks on the lorries (cheers) and is the right hon. gentleman aware that during the South African War [1899-1902] the present Prime Minister strongly denounced the practice as barbarous and Unchristian?
Sir H Greenwood – That is the policy carried out in certain parts of Ireland. (Cheers.)
Mr Devlin – With all the forces of the British Army at his back, can the Chief Secretary not conceive some more humane plan of fighting this battle than to carry on a barbarous policy of this sort?
Colonel Archer Shee – Is it not a fact that some of the civilians alluded to were murdered by the Sinn Féin rebels themselves?
Mr Devlin – Shut up, you fool!
Black and Tans in Monaghan
THE house of a Mrs Martin, Carrickmacross (Co Monaghan) was raided on Friday night by a number of Black and Tans.
Mrs Martin’s son, who was ill and in bed, was forced to get out of bed and strip naked on the floor and his body was examined, apparently for wounds. He was severely questioned as to his whereabouts on the previous Saturday night.
On This Day – 30th 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.