At 4 am Houses burned and old man shot at Shrule — Blacksmith's Story — Pathetic scene between Mother and Son described

The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, November 6, 1920.

Introduction

A Claremorris Press Association message says that on Thursday morning a lorry load of uniformed men entered the village of Shrule, while most of the residents were at Kilmaine fair, and burned down two shops. They called first at the house of Mr. Kelleher in search of his son, and before the door was opened fired five shots through it, wounding the old man on his way to admit them. The house of Mr. Joshua Murphy was also burned. Armed and uniformed men visited the house of a farmer at Thomas town where a young man named Murphy is employed. It is stated that they accused Murphy of using insulting expressions in connection with the "Black and Tans' and that the young man denied the allegation. The strangers then seized him and threw him into a pool of water, firing a number of shots over his head.

Blacksmith's Story

Patrick Kelleher, blacksmith, of Shrule, County Mayo, who is at present in Galway County Hospital suffering from shock and bullet wounds in an interview with a "Connacht Tribune" representative, related his experiences on October 28.

Mr. Kelleher who lived at Shrule with his wife, son and sister—in—law, stated that he was suddenly awakened at four am on the night of October 28 by rifle fire, which was aimed at the front door. On hearing a loud knocking, he got out of bed and proceeded in his night attire to admit the visitors, but when in the act of doing so, he was struck on the thigh almost simultaneously with a rifle bullet and with "something like pieces of shrapnel". He suffered intense pain and bled profusely. When he opened the door, three men, who spoke with an English accent, rushed in. One of the raiders walked into the kitchen and put his back to the fire, while two others left a can of petrol on the table. Willie, his son, was taken out on the street almost naked by two armed men, and compelled to kneel down on the footpath.

Mrs. Kelleher, on hearing the commotion, got hurriedly out of bed, proceeded to where her son was kneeling between two armed men and flung her arms around him. Willie was then roughly treated and received some severe kicks and blows. He was asked to give the names of some Sinn Feiners. This he refused, stating that he knew none. He was then told he would be shot.

One of the raiders went into Langan's public house, close by, from which he took some shop goods, which he placed in a lorry. Willie, who was now being guarded by one man only, received a severe blow and fell against the door. He managed to catch hold of the jamb, dragged himself away from his assailant, and made good his escape by the back.

The raiders then re—entered the house and went upstairs, thinking Willie was there, while one was heard to exclaim "Take him down and shoot him". They next proceeded to make a minute search of the house, and it is alleged, removed cash. The owners then got five minutes to clear out, and immediately the raiders set fire to the premises, bolting the back door and locking the front. They next set on fire the house of Mrs. Murphy, which is quite near.

During this period numbers of armed men were marching the streets and kept continuously shouting and firing until the whole party finally left.

Mr. Kelleher, who is about sixty years of age, added that in addition to receiving a bullet, and other wounds he go hit with a clenched fist over the eye, on which there is still a mark. He then lost consciousness and remembers nothing further of what took place. Subsequently he was attended to by Nurse O'Hara and Dr. Golding, who dressed his wounds. It was some time afterwards before he was in a condition to be removed to hospital.