Deadly Attack — Two Irregular and Two Free State Soldiers Killed at Headford — Four Soldiers Wounded — Calls for Surrender Met by Counter—attacks and Pursuit — Mine Blows in Barrack Door

The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, April 14, 1923.

Irregulars Escape in Boats Across Corrib

A desperate conflict took place between Irregulars and National troops stationed at Headford on Sunday morning, when an attack was opened by about thirty Irregulars at 10 o'clock, am, in broad daylight.

The dead are John Higgins, Ballytrasna, Tuam, who was killed during the fight; Company Sergt. Major M. Carthy and Volunteer Lyons, of the National forces died as the result of serious wounds received; four or five other volunteers, including Harry Burke, of Tuam, received slight wounds. The number of Irregulars wounded cannot be exactly accounted for, and it is stated they were carried away by their comrades, and streaks of blood are visible in many places along the line of retreat. At least one wounded man was seen to be taken away by his comrades.

The plan of attack seemed to be the blowing in the front of the barracks, which is the building formerly known as the National Bank. A position was then taken up by six Irregulars in the shop of Mr. Thady McHugh, opposite the barracks across the road. The garrison was called on to surrender the Irregulars thought there would be an immediate surrender. Their first act was to lay a mine resting on the bull—wire entanglements around the front of the building. The men who placed, it in position walked across in their stocking feet. In fact, mostly all the attackers are said to have been without boots, which they had taken off and left behind them when they retreated.

The mine blew in the front door of the barracks and shattered the stone steps and windows. The garrison became aroused and immediately took up positions. Sergeant Major McCarthy, in charge of the machine—gun, brought it into play, and its fire caught Higgins, who was found dead in a yard near the courthouse. His stomach was frightfully cut up with bullets. The machine—gun was also trained on McHugh's house, where Dan McCormack, a native of Laskeevy, Tuam, was very seriously wounded. An arm and a leg were almost severed from the body with bullets, forty—five of which are said to have caught him.

An attempt was made to lay a second mine near the barracks, but it was frustrated by the sudden rush out of the military. There were then calls from some Irregulars to the barracks garrison to go out and fight, and Captain Nugent, Lieut. Burns, and Sergt. Major McCarthy, with a machine—gun, went out, crossing the street. Sergt. Major McCarthy, was mortally wounded, and has since died in hospital.

At this time the Irregulars had begun their retreat and it was stray shots from one or two of them who covered the retreat that caught McCarthy and Lyons. The troops followed in pursuit across the demesne and on towards Ross Abbey and Clooncen village. Another fight took place in the demesne, where four other volunteers got wounded, but not seriously, and Captain Nugent had about sixteen of them almost surrounded when he tried to get the machine—gun into operation, but it failed to work, the blood of Sergt. Major McCarthy, who had fallen across it when wounded, having got into it. The Irregulars got away with their dead and wounded. Streams of blood were observed on the line of their retreat. They left after them four rifles, twenty bombs, one battery, and a large cable wire. Some of the attackers got away across the Corrib in boats, having had, it is stated, come across from Connemara the night before.

The fighting, it is stated, did not last longer than half—an—hour, the Irregulars having retreated as soon as the soldiers left the barracks. There was not much damage done to the building, which has again been strongly fortified.

The report that a shop and house were burned down is not correct. Very little damage was done to any house in the town beyond the breaking of windows. Only a few bullets were fired through the barracks window. The Irregulars left many of their boats and boots behind them. Most of the troops too, including Lieut. Burns, went out in their bare feet and without coats.

Three prisoners named Skerritt, Rabbitt, and Hughes were arrested in the locality of Headford on Monday.

Rev. Father Daly and Dr. Golding attended to the wounded.

Headford Fight — Inquest on Two Solider Victims

Mr. J. C. Conroy, solr., coroner, held an inquest on Tuesday at Renmore into the circumstances surrounding the death of two soldiers, Sergeant Major John McCarthy and Private Thomas Lyons, who were killed in the Headford fight on Sunday morning.

A Jury Having Been Sworn

Dr. Heneghan disposed: I saw Sergeant—Major John McCarthy yesterday (Sunday), at 11.30 o'clock a.m. in Headford. He was then lying on a stretcher in an ambulance. Prior to my arrival he had been medically treated. I transferred him to my own ambulance and had him conveyed to Renmore hospital, Galway. After consultation with Dr. O'Malley, we made an examination of his wounds. He had a large gaping wound on the right side about nine inches long, and another bullet wound at the back of the right knee. He was in a very weak condition, and appeared to have lost a lot of blood. He was surgically treated by Dr. O'Malley. His condition did not improve, and he died at twelve o'clock, last night (Sunday). Death was due to shock and hemorrhage. I saw Private Thomas Lyons yesterday (Sunday) at 11.20 o'clock at Headford. He was in the ambulance with Co. Sergeant Major McCarthy. I also had him transferred to my ambulance and conveyed to Renmore. He had a punctured wound in the right buttock. He was in much pain, and was suffering from shock. He appeared to have lost a good deal of blood. He was surgically treated by Dr. O'Malley, but his condition did not impove, and he died at three o'clock this morning. Death was due to shock and hemorrhage following gunshot wounds.

Dr. Heneghan added that septic poisoning set up in the wound and developed a condition known as malignant odoema. This condition is brought about by dirt. The man had been lying on the street at Headford for a considerable time during the fight, but his clothes would prevent any dirty matter getting into the wound and he was therefore forced to the conclusion that the bullet, which caused the wound was poisoned.

The inquest was adjourned to this evening.

When the inquest was resumed on Tuesday, Lieutenant J. Murphy, Claremorris, representing the military and next—of—kin, was present.

Captain Joseph Nugent deposed: I am in charge of the barracks at Headford, and was in charge on the morning of the attack. I saw the body of company Sergeant Major McCarthy, who was in my command, and identified it. He was a native of Taughnaconnell, Athlone, and unmarried. At about a quarter to five o'clock on Sunday morning last the barracks were attacked. There was firing for about half an hour on three quarters. The troops got out of barracks and went round, Sergt. Major McCarthy and Vol. Lyons being amongst them. When they left the barracks they went round the road and the firing stopped for a few minutes. When the troops came back again to the barracks the firing from the attackers was resumed, and Serg. Major McCarthy and Vol. Lyons were hit. He (witness) with others removed deceased into the barracks for safety. He saw some of the men that attacked the barracks, but could not recognize any of them. One of the attackers was shot. They found him afterwards at the end of the town wounded. Dr. Goldrick, Headford, attended the deceased, and later the ambulance arrived. Another man who was found after the firing ceased, was dead. Witness also saw the body of Vol. Lyons, who was a native of Ballyglass, which he identified.

Asked by Lieutenant Murphy, for the military next of kin, if the men found had any arms, witness said they had arms and ammunition.

This concluded the evidence, and the coroner said Gentlemen, this is all the evidence we have to deal with it. You have heard the doctor's evidence, and you will recollect that the doctor who examined the deceased men said in his evidence that he found both were very badly wounded, and he had given it as his opinion that death was due to shock and hemorrhage caused by wounds. What caused those wounds you have heard — a fight was started in Headford. The barracks were attacked, the light going out for three—quarters of an hour, in which deceased were shot. One of the attackers, according to the evidence, was found dead and another wounded. It was a pretty clear case. Bullets will not settle arguments, and there seems to be no way of settling arguments like that. I do not see the good of going into political matters in this case. They had only to find the cause of death. He though it was a case that the jury would consider very carefully. They had a Government authority in the country whom was established by the will of the people and its officers are attacked, and that was a pretty serious thing. He would leave them to bring in their verdict, but to bring in, of course, a verdict in both cases — of Sergt. Major McCarthy and Vol. Lyons.

The Verdict

The jury then retired, and, after a short absence, returned with the following verdict: — "That both men met their death by gunshot wounds, inflicted by some person or persons unknown." They added a rider expressing deep sympathy with the relatives of deceased with which the coroner and Lieut. Murphy associated themselves.

Funeral of John Higgins

The remains of John Higgins, killed at Headford, were removed by the military to Tuam barracks on Sunday. On Monday evening they were taken to the Cathedral, attended by a large number of mourners. Deceased was a brother of Mr. Martin Higgin, D.C., Ballytrasna, Tuam. He was for years in the Sinn Fein movement, and took an active part in the fighting against the British. There was High Mass in the Cathedral on Tuesday morning for the repose of his soul, and the interment took place in the family burial ground.