One killed and five wounded after military raid on dance in Bantry
3 others killed in separate shooting incidents
Cork, 17 August 1923 - A 23 year-old man was killed and five others were wounded after gun shots were fired at a licensed premises that was hosting a dance at Kealkil, near Bantry, Co. Cork on the 14th of August.
The victim has been named as Michael Coakley of Woods’ Place, York Street, Cork. Mr. Woods, a confectioner’s assistant, was on holiday in the Kealkil district and was shot dead during a military raid on the premises in which the dance was being held. Mr. Coakley was shot whilst dancing.
According to civilian witnesses, shots were heard outside as the dance was progressing between 3am and 4am. Coakley fell where he was dancing as a result, and two other civilians were wounded.
However, the Coroner has described the evidence presented to him as contradictory. Military witnesses allege that shots were fired at them as they approached the house where the dance was taking place and that the wounds to one of the civilians was caused by buckshot, which the military did not use. One of their wounded officers , Lt. Connolly, who was stationed at Bantry, was later operated on at Mercy Hospital in Cork, where he had a bullet extracted.
The jury at the inquest into the death of Michael Coakley has extended its sympathy to his mother and relatives.
The incident in Cork is not isolated, unfortunately. In recent days, three further deaths have been reported as a result of shooting incidents. James Taylor, from Dublin Road, Nenagh, was killed after being shot at Lisboney, on the outskirts of the town.
Michael Lyons, a native of Ballisodare, Co. Sligo, and a Civic Guard stationed in Clones, was shot dead in Belturbet, Co. Cavan, while returning from a dance. Mr. Lyons was driving at the time and his companion, a young woman from Clones, was wounded by the same bullet that killed Lyons. A sentry at local barracks has since been arrested.
And Thomas Mannion, an escaped prisoner, was shot and wounded near Athlone before subsequently succumbing to his injuries at St. Bricin’s Hospital.
[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.]
