The
monument on Midleton's main street which commemerates
those of the Fourth (East Cork) Battalion who died during
the War of Independence.
Following an ambush of Black and Tans in Midleton
in December 1920, the first ‘official’ reprisals of the Anglo-Irish War - the
destruction with explosives of the houses of civilians - were carried out by
the British authorities.
When patrolling the streets of all Irish towns
after nightfall, it was the practice of military and police to walk the
footpaths in extended formation, making it almost impossible for attackers in
fixed positions to cover them all. In this situation the only way they could be
attacked was in open confrontation. On December 29th. a mixed patrol of RIC and
Black and Tans, ten in all, was on patrol Midleton. Five black-coated figures,
fully armed, moved cautiously along both sides of the street, ten or twelve
paces apart. In between the lines of these men there suddenly appeared a group
of IRA men who immediately opened fire. RIC Constable Mullins fell mortally
wounded. Five Black and Tans were seriously wounded, two of whom, Constables
Dray and Thorpe, died shortly afterwards. The remainder of the party managed
to escape back to their barracks. One volunteer, Jim McCarthy, was also
wounded. Shortly afterwards British reinforcements from Cork ran into an ambush at the Mile Bush, two
miles from Midleton. An RIC sergeant and constable were wounded during this exchange
of fire.
On January
1, between 3 and 6 p.m., the British exacted their reprisals. Up to that
time it had been their custom to run amuck after they were attacked, wreaking arbitrary
vengeance. However, on this occasion the houses of seven families were selected and the residents were given an hour to clear
out valuables but not furniture.
The contents were then broken up with axes and a bomb was exploded in each
premises. Later that night, the Midleton Garage and Engineering Works [now Neville's Garage] which was owned by Patrick
Hallinan, was burnt to the ground. It was officially stated by the British
military authorities that the reprisals were carried out because the
inhabitants of the area had "neglected to give information to the military
and police" regarding the attackers of the Black and Tans in Midleton, on
December 29.
Those who had their homes destroyed by order of
Brigadier-General H.W. Higginson CB, DSO, 17th Infantry Brigade and Military Governor of Midleton were; John O'Shea, Paul McCarthy, Edmond
Carey (Urban District Councilor) all of Midleton; Rodger Aherne and the Dorgan
family of Ballyrichard; Bartholomew Cotter and the Donovan Brothers (John,
Myles and Jim) of Ballyadam and Michael
Dorgan and Mr. Aherne of Knockgriffin.
The Midleton reprisals received widespread publicity
with the London Daily Mail, condemning outright the
action of the military governor.
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