On This Day / September 7, 1920

Banbridge murder sensation

Strongly condemning his murder and tendering sympathies to his relatives, a Gilford, Co Down jury on Saturday found that William McDowell, motorcar proprietor from Gilford, died from the effects of a wound caused by a bullet of a revolver of a large type, fired by some person unknown.

John McCarron, a labourer, said he was walking from Laurencetown to Gilford and heard shots just after he had passed a place known as ‘The Hole in the Wall’. At the entrance to Tullylish Rectory he saw a motorcar on the road.

The deceased man was lying beside the car. Witness saw there was no movement and ran for assistance.

At Knocknagor School he met William McConville with his hand on his head. McConville said: ‘They threw me over the wall but McDowell was shot.’

William McConville, a cashier in the firm of Messrs Dunbar, McMaster and Co Limited, Gilford, said he left Gilford Works about 9.30 am in deceased’s motor to go to Banbridge to get money to pay the workers. He received £1,308.10s in the Northern Bank.

Approaching Tullylish, he saw a motorcar stopped on the road. There were two men at the back of the car which was jacked up.

The deceased walked back to the second car [to offer assistance]. McConville said he heard a shout of ‘Hands up!’

Two revolvers were immediately produced by the men. A man with a revolver caught him about the neck and he lost consciousness.

When he came to he saw Willie McDowell stretched out and felt sure he was dead. The money was gone.

The Sunday Mail says: ‘The Constabulary do not incline to the belief that it was a Sinn Féin outrage.’

Later it was revealed that two local men had been arrested. William Conlon, Gilford, has been charged on suspicion of being concerned with the brutal murder while William McConville, a cashier at Dunbar, McMaster and Co. Ltd has been charged with the murder of McDowell and the larceny of £1,308.

[Dr Phoenix notes: In the event, Conlon and two Co Tyrone men were later found guilty of the murder and robbery. Conlon maintained that the robbery had been sanctioned by the IRA. McConville, the cashier, was acquitted.]

Fermanagh barracks captured

Dublin Castle states that the Police Barracks at Belleek, County Fermanagh was captured and burned yesterday morning by raiders disguised as soldiers and in two motorcars.

Several police were at Divine Service at the time and the doors of the church were locked by the raiders to prevent them from coming to the assistance of their comrades. The barrack was destroyed and the arms captured.