On This Day / September 29, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19200929
Reference Date
19200929
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 29th September 1920, violent clashes shook the Oldpark district of Belfast as mobs invaded Catholic streets and police opened fire, leaving one man dead and others wounded. At the same time, Belfast’s Lord Mayor denied that the killings were sectarian. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix.
Police Shoot Oldpark Invaders
THERE was a general attack made upon the streets immediately adjoining Stanhope Street in the Oldpark Road district between eight and nine o’clock on Monday night and a defence was prepared by those whose homes were endangered by the invading mobs.
The whole locality was thrown into a state of turmoil, stone-throwing and shooting.
The police made several charges against the invading crowds while an armoured car was deployed in Stanhope Street.
An Irish News representative was given a thrilling account by an eyewitness.
Shortly before nine o’clock great alarm was created by the news that a very large crowd was proceeding through Ewart’s Row and Louisa Street in the direction of Glenpark and Mountview Streets.
It was estimated that about 1,500 persons made up the mobs from Shankill, Crumlin and Old Lodge Roads.
There was at this time only a small force of police on duty at the ‘danger points’.
Head Constable Clarke warned local residents to remain indoors.
He blocked the passage into the Catholic quarter but the invaders opened fire with revolvers and rifles.
The Head Constable shouted pluckily: ‘It is the police you are shooting at. Cease fire or I will order my men to fire!.’
No attention was paid to this warning and the order was given to open fire.
Two men, Fred Blair and John Lawther were wounded, Blair fatally.
One of the saddest incidents took place when the Orange mob approached Glenpark Street.
Mrs O’Neill at number 9 had a terrifying experience. Her house was in the line of fire and she was compelled to rush out, carrying the corpse of her infant which had died that morning.
Mrs O’Neill’s husband was killed during the Orange attack upon the same district in August.
Lord Mayor on Belfast Murders
YESTERDAY in the City Hall, the Lord Mayor (Councillor W F Coates) told cross-channel journalists: ‘Everything was peaceful here until ten days ago…
‘On Wednesday a further step towards permanent peace was taken when the shipyard workers resolved that they would work with any man, irrespective of religion, putting them on their honour that they were not associated with Sinn Féin …
‘Unfortunately on Saturday night four policemen were fired on, one killed.
‘Later that night the houses of well-known Sinn Féiners were visited and three were shot dead…There was no question of sectarian strife.’
[Editor’s note: The upsurge of mob violence in Belfast had the potential to disrupt Craig’s plans to expedite a separate Unionist state and a loyalist-based special constabulary: faced with a largely hostile British press, the lord mayor was keen to dispel any question of ‘sectarian strife’.]
Further Reading:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19200929
Reference Date
19200929
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 29th September 1920, violent clashes shook the Oldpark district of Belfast as mobs invaded Catholic streets and police opened fire, leaving one man dead and others wounded. At the same time, Belfast’s Lord Mayor denied that the killings were sectarian. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix.
Police Shoot Oldpark Invaders
THERE was a general attack made upon the streets immediately adjoining Stanhope Street in the Oldpark Road district between eight and nine o’clock on Monday night and a defence was prepared by those whose homes were endangered by the invading mobs.
The whole locality was thrown into a state of turmoil, stone-throwing and shooting.
The police made several charges against the invading crowds while an armoured car was deployed in Stanhope Street.
An Irish News representative was given a thrilling account by an eyewitness.
Shortly before nine o’clock great alarm was created by the news that a very large crowd was proceeding through Ewart’s Row and Louisa Street in the direction of Glenpark and Mountview Streets.
It was estimated that about 1,500 persons made up the mobs from Shankill, Crumlin and Old Lodge Roads.
There was at this time only a small force of police on duty at the ‘danger points’.
Head Constable Clarke warned local residents to remain indoors.
He blocked the passage into the Catholic quarter but the invaders opened fire with revolvers and rifles.
The Head Constable shouted pluckily: ‘It is the police you are shooting at. Cease fire or I will order my men to fire!.’
No attention was paid to this warning and the order was given to open fire.
Two men, Fred Blair and John Lawther were wounded, Blair fatally.
One of the saddest incidents took place when the Orange mob approached Glenpark Street.
Mrs O’Neill at number 9 had a terrifying experience. Her house was in the line of fire and she was compelled to rush out, carrying the corpse of her infant which had died that morning.
Mrs O’Neill’s husband was killed during the Orange attack upon the same district in August.
Lord Mayor on Belfast Murders
YESTERDAY in the City Hall, the Lord Mayor (Councillor W F Coates) told cross-channel journalists: ‘Everything was peaceful here until ten days ago…
‘On Wednesday a further step towards permanent peace was taken when the shipyard workers resolved that they would work with any man, irrespective of religion, putting them on their honour that they were not associated with Sinn Féin …
‘Unfortunately on Saturday night four policemen were fired on, one killed.
‘Later that night the houses of well-known Sinn Féiners were visited and three were shot dead…There was no question of sectarian strife.’
[Editor’s note: The upsurge of mob violence in Belfast had the potential to disrupt Craig’s plans to expedite a separate Unionist state and a loyalist-based special constabulary: faced with a largely hostile British press, the lord mayor was keen to dispel any question of ‘sectarian strife’.]
Further Reading:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19200929
Reference Date
September 29, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 29th September 1920, violent clashes shook the Oldpark district of Belfast as mobs invaded Catholic streets and police opened fire, leaving one man dead and others wounded. At the same time, Belfast’s Lord Mayor denied that the killings were sectarian. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix.
Police Shoot Oldpark Invaders
THERE was a general attack made upon the streets immediately adjoining Stanhope Street in the Oldpark Road district between eight and nine o’clock on Monday night and a defence was prepared by those whose homes were endangered by the invading mobs.
The whole locality was thrown into a state of turmoil, stone-throwing and shooting.
The police made several charges against the invading crowds while an armoured car was deployed in Stanhope Street.
An Irish News representative was given a thrilling account by an eyewitness.
Shortly before nine o’clock great alarm was created by the news that a very large crowd was proceeding through Ewart’s Row and Louisa Street in the direction of Glenpark and Mountview Streets.
It was estimated that about 1,500 persons made up the mobs from Shankill, Crumlin and Old Lodge Roads.
There was at this time only a small force of police on duty at the ‘danger points’.
Head Constable Clarke warned local residents to remain indoors.
He blocked the passage into the Catholic quarter but the invaders opened fire with revolvers and rifles.
The Head Constable shouted pluckily: ‘It is the police you are shooting at. Cease fire or I will order my men to fire!.’
No attention was paid to this warning and the order was given to open fire.
Two men, Fred Blair and John Lawther were wounded, Blair fatally.
One of the saddest incidents took place when the Orange mob approached Glenpark Street.
Mrs O’Neill at number 9 had a terrifying experience. Her house was in the line of fire and she was compelled to rush out, carrying the corpse of her infant which had died that morning.
Mrs O’Neill’s husband was killed during the Orange attack upon the same district in August.
Lord Mayor on Belfast Murders
YESTERDAY in the City Hall, the Lord Mayor (Councillor W F Coates) told cross-channel journalists: ‘Everything was peaceful here until ten days ago…
‘On Wednesday a further step towards permanent peace was taken when the shipyard workers resolved that they would work with any man, irrespective of religion, putting them on their honour that they were not associated with Sinn Féin …
‘Unfortunately on Saturday night four policemen were fired on, one killed.
‘Later that night the houses of well-known Sinn Féiners were visited and three were shot dead…There was no question of sectarian strife.’
[Editor’s note: The upsurge of mob violence in Belfast had the potential to disrupt Craig’s plans to expedite a separate Unionist state and a loyalist-based special constabulary: faced with a largely hostile British press, the lord mayor was keen to dispel any question of ‘sectarian strife’.]
Further Reading:
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.