Wild Disorder at Tralee

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7282, 9 October 1933, Page 7

Wild Disorder at Tralee

O’Duffy Twice Hit On Head With Hammer

MILITARY USE BAYONETS AND TEAR-GAS BOMBS

.United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. , LONDON, Oct. 7.

General O'Duffy, who is spending the night at Killarney, told tho Central News that ho was struck twico on the head by a man with a hammer at Tralee.

Ho believed that the I.R.A. was not coucernod, and that tho attack was organised by tho Pi anna Pail, obviously planned to stop his advance.

A mob held tho Tralee police practically powerless. General O'Duffy, speaking of the Tralee riots, said: "I was loft completely at the mercy of the mob by tho police. Twenty men entered the street and one depraved looking creature, With a hammer in his hand, walked up and struck me on tho head from behind. I can identify him, as can my associates. I was struck a second time. “Tho Civic Guards did not arrest or interfere with tho man, and I saw nothing of the military.

“Tho attack was obviously premeditated to prevent a lawful meeting of a political party. The Government seized my revolver and I am unarmed, but I am now taking steps to protect fftysclf. I prefer a military tribunal sentence to assassination." Tho disorder continued long after General o'Duffy's departure, angry crowds parading Tralee. Shots came as a climax in tho early hears, when riffles, revolvers and machine-guns Were used for ten minutes against the polico barracks, where tho crowd believed General O’Duffy was hidden.

The events are arousing great coneern owing to the intensity of political feeling. Stone-throwers, shouting, “wo want O'Duffy, dead or alive," wore dispersed by the military with tear-gas bombs.

The military arrived at Tralee on lorries carrying gas-masks and were given a fiercely hostile reception, but, fixing bayonets, soon imposed some sort of order, though half-hearted attempts were made to stone them. General O’Duffy and Mr. Cronin left escorted by soldiers with fixed bayonets.

The leader of the 1.8. A. parade, during the commotion, appealed for order. General O'Duffy’s recently purchased par was burned.