March 22, 2012

1912

Agrarian assaultBallinasloe Petty Sessions were held before Col. Thornhill (in the chair), and J.J. O’Shaughnessy, J.P.

Mr. Price, D.I. charged Michael Kennedy and Thomas Hurney with assaulting Thomas Gately, Lissegan. Mr. Kearns, solr., appeared for the defendants.

D.I. Price said that on the 8th of the present month the complainant carted hay in Ballinasloe for a man named Burns of Lowville. There was a dispute over land held by Burns, and as a result Gately got into disfavour for carting hay for him. The two men charged called Gately names and assaulted him.

The magistrates, after consultations, held that there was an assault committed. Kennedy was fined 10s 6d and costs and bound to the peace and Hough was fined 5s and costs and bound to the peace.

Brutal stabbingWhat appears to be a brutal stabbing affray occurred at Milltown on Sunday last, where a football match was played between teams representing Irishtown and Milltown. The injured man’s name is Michael Kirrane, from Logria, Irishtown, and he alleges that he was stabbed in the abdomen and neck with a knife.

Kirrane’s serious injuries left his position precarious, and Dr. Costello, Dunmore, the medical officer for the district, was immediately communicated with. He with District Inspector Horgan, Dunmore, promptly motored to Milltown, and the medical gentleman rendered all aid that was possible under the circumstances.

Subsequently the man was conveyed to Tuam and detained in hospital, where the wounds were skilfully attended to by the staff.

1937

Gort outragesMr. S. Broderick (U.I.P.), Galway, in the Dáil asked the Minister for Justice to state how many outrages have been reported to the Garda Siochana in the Garda district at Gort in the twelve months ended February 28, 1937; if he were in the position to state what has been the cause of such outrages and if any of the perpetrators have been brought to justice.

Thirteen cases were reported. Four were cases of theft, four cases of damage to property and intimidation believed to be connected with agrarian disputes, three cases of threatening letters, one case of fraud and one case of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the seventeen years.

Proceedings were instituted in connection with six of the outrages. Convictions were secured in five cases and one case has been adjourned. The Gardaí have been unable to obtain sufficient evidence to support prosecutions in the remaining cases, but enquiries are proceeding.

Infectious diseasesTwenty-two cases of infectious diseases occurred in County Galway during the month of January. The monthly report on Dr. B O Beirne, County Medical Officer of health just issued shows that eleven of these were cases of diphtheria and five were of scarlet fever. Five of the diphtheria cases occurred in the Loughrea areas, one on Ballinasloe urban area, one in Clifden, one in Galway rural area and three in Tuam area. Two of the scarlet fever cases occurred in Gort area, one in Galway urban area, one in Loughrea area and one in Mountbellew.

Wires downWhile the West escaped much of the severity of the storms of last week, telephone and telegraphic communication between many areas was seriously affected. Telegraph lines were down in many places and direct communication between Galway and Dublin was completely cut off.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.