Frank Carney's arrest appears on a page in the Freeman's Journal, and on that single page there is a snapshot of the escalating drama in the War of Independence. It is all there on page 5 of the issue dated Tuesday, March 30th 1920, the everyday heroics and tragedies in the fight for Irish freedom.
The Freeman's Journal, Tuesday March 30th 1920, page 5 |
There are more murders by policemen reported on this page, two IRA men shot in their homes. All of these are in the wake of sustained attacks
on police barracks and policemen throughout the southern counties. What the Fremman's Journal does not yet report is that the force that became known as 'the Black and Tans', the most vicious of all the British Police forces, begins to arrive in Ireland this same week, on March 25th 1920.
Ireland is
out of control. Another article on this
same page illustrates just how bad it has become. Here we are told that General Shaw, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces,
is being recalled to London. He is to be
replaced by General MacCready, who is to ‘strengthen the administration of the
law in Ireland’.
The Freeman's Journal, Tuesday March 30th 1920 |
The Freeman's Jounal gives some dramatic reports of those who were arrested in this round-up but Frank Carney's entry is a simple statement announcing the arrest of Mr Francis Carney U.D.C. Enniskillen.
This mention of Frank in the Freeman’s Journal on March 30th
begins a sequence in which we can trace his activities from March through to early May 1920:
Monday March 21 – Carney House Raided
Frank Carney’s house, 18 Abbey
Street, Enniskillen where he lives with his mother and father, is raided and
searched by members of the RIC. It is not known what is found, but Frank is not
arrested. (Reported in the Freeman’s
Jounal, Tuesday 30th March 1920)
Saturday March 27 – Frank Carney Arrested
An IRA Captain who
served under Frank Carney tells us in his Bureau of Military History testimony:
“Early in 1920 plans were being
laid to burn vacated Police barracks and Income Tax offices. Each Battalion Area
had its work set out for them. Before these plans matured Mr. Carney was
arrested.”2
The Freeman's Journal, Tuesday 30th March 1920 |
In the Derry Journal of April 2nd we learn that these prisoners arrived in the city under military and police escort, and they were conveyed by 'motor lorries' to the prison.
"Along the route to the jail, the prisoners sang 'The Soldiers Song' and other Republican songs. At the entrance to the prison they were cheered by sympathisers."
We read in this same ariticle there is now pandemonium in Derry Jail, with over 80 Republican prisoners there, and 'normal prisoners' being moved on to Sligo. In Belfast, people are arriving to the Jail from all over Ireland;
"Two destroyers arrived in Belfast Lough from Queenstown with 38 political prisoners."
Mountjoy prison in Dublin is full, and the prisoners there are protesting at their treatment. The Derry Journal reports that a large number of them are permanently in handcuffs.
Tuesday April 20 – Move to Belfast Jail
Derry Journal, 21st April 1920 |
After three weeks in Derry Jail, Commandant
Frank Carney is taken by train to from Derry to Belfast Jail. He is in a group of prisoners
from Tyrone, Donegal, Fermanagh and Derry who are moved to Belfast’s Crumlin Road Jail
under heavy military escort. This Jail is totally controlled by the military at
this time.
Monday April 26 - Hunger Strike Begins
Six days after Frank's arrival in Belfast Jail, the prisoners decide to go on hunger strike;
“The prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs and Mountjoy went on hunger-strike
about this time, and strong appeals were being made by some of the Belfast
prisoners to join them. General O'Duffy (Eoin O’Duffy) was in charge of the prisoners. A general meeting was held
and it was unanimously decided to go on hunger-strike." (James McKenna in his Bureau of Military History statement)3
Anglo-Celt, April 30 1920 |
“On behalf of 145 uncharged and untried men in Belfast Prison, we
demand immediate and unconditional release. Failing this, we go on hunger strike on Monday 26th April, 1920. Signed on behalf of the prisoners,
Dan Healy Commandant; Owen O’Duffy, Ulster and Connaght; Philip Lennon,
Leinster; Thomas Clifford, Munster. – Prison Council”(Anglo-Celt, Friday April 30th 1920)
Along with his comrades, Frank Carney goes on hunger strike on April 26th.
Friday May 1 1920 - Frank Carney Rushed to Hospital
After just a few days on
hunger strike, Frank Carney becomes seriously ill and is released. He is rushed
to the Mater Informum Hospital. (The Mater in Belfast)
“After a few days fast the late Frank Carney, T.D., and a few others
who were not very robust were carried out on stretchers. This led to a general
release on the sixth day and we were all conveyed to the various hospitals,
from where we were discharged in about a week.” ( James McKenna, OC North Monaghan Brigade, IRA, 1921)3
Not all prisoners were released.
About 70 were deported to Wormwood Scrubs prison in England. On their way they
were marched to Belfast Docks where they were attacked by dock workers. Their British Army escorts stood idly by while the prisoners were pelted with bolts and metal
bars thrown down from the boats. The hunger strike continued in Wormwood Scrubs.
Following his brief hunger strike, Frank Carney was back on his feet with amazing speed, and shortly after this we have news of some of his daring raids.
Following his brief hunger strike, Frank Carney was back on his feet with amazing speed, and shortly after this we have news of some of his daring raids.
______________________________
Notes and References:
1 This
coroner's inquest into the death of the Lord Mayor was highly significant. It passed a verdict of willful murder against British Prime Minister Lloyd
George and against certain named members of the RIC. Michael Collins later
ordered the killing of the police officers involved in the attack. RIC District
Inspector Oswald Swanzy, who had ordered the attack, was fatally shot with Mac
Curtain's own revolver while leaving a Protestant church in Lisburn on 22
August 1920, sparking a pogram against the Catholic residents of the town.
2 Bureau
of Military History 1913-1921, WS Ref #: 559 , Witness: James J Smyth,
Captain IRA, Leitrim, 1921
3 Bureau
of Military History 1913-1921, WS Ref #: 1028 , Witness: James McKenna, OC
North Monaghan Brigade, IRA, 1921
* Note: All the Newspapers quoted in this article were accessed from Findmypast.ie
* Note: All the Newspapers quoted in this article were accessed from Findmypast.ie
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