Attack on four workers near Douglas Street

The junction of Nicholas Street (right) with Douglas Street, near where the attack took place.

The son of a well-known Cork musician, Stephen Dorman worked in the readers and compositors' department of the Cork Examiner newspaper. On May 23, having finished his night shift, he left the offices at Academy Street at about 3 a.m., accompanied by work colleagues Chris Walsh, Fred Murphy and James Collins.

Walking home, as they passed the top of Nicholas Street to walk down Douglas Street, a bomb was thrown in their direction and they also came under revolver fire. Dorman took the main impact of the bomb blast. Walsh was badly wounded while the other two escaped with minor cuts and bruises.

Local residents, including Father Murphy, who was the administrator of the nearby St Finbarr's School, ran from their houses to offer assistance. The wounded men were taken to the nearby South Infirmary hospital, where Dorman had his leg amputated. However, at noon on the following day he succumbed to his wounds. He was buried at the Republican plot at St. Finbarr’s cemetery. The general consensus at the time was that the attack had been carried out by R.I.C. and Black and Tans.