Mob violence in Cork

Cork, 25 June 1917 - Riots in Cork City last night have left one man dead and a number seriously injured.

The riot grew from an initial procession of Sinn Féiners as they returned from a camogie match between Plunketts and Clan Emer. This group was escorted by the Pipers’ Band, and as they made their way through the city their numbers swelled and they grew unruly.

When they reached the Irish Volunteer Hall, which had recently been taken over by the British Army, they stormed the building and retook possession of it. They also attacked a recruiting office and several shop windows were smashed along Patrick Street.

The police responded with batons and bayonets. They charged the crowds a number of times, but failed to scatter them. It was during one of these charges that a man named Abraham Allen, from the North Mall, was struck with a bayonet in the thigh. He was brought to the North Infirmary with other injured parties, but later died of his wounds.

At around 11.15PM the army was called in to disperse the crowds but in the end were not needed as the scene calmed considerably around midnight.

However, during the night there were further random acts of violence in the city centre. Stones were thrown and shots were fired, although the only significant injury appears to be to a police sergeant who received a revolver shot under the eye. This is not thought to be serious.

The Irish Independent blamed the violence on irresponsible youths and a ‘rabble’. An Irish Times editorial said that the reports from Cork were akin to the ‘first days of the Russian Revolution’.

Lord Mayor of Cork TC Butterfield has appealed for restraint and an end to the disorder, while Tomas Mac Curtain, Terence McSwiney and Diarmuid Lynch, on behalf of the Irish Volunteers, Sinn Féin and other national organisations ordered members and followers to keep off the streets of city to prevent a recurrence of the violence.

Observers described the rioting as the worst in the city for 40 years.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]