April 16, 2010

Date Published: {J}

Underage drinking

Mr PM Cahill, licensed publican, Tuam, was prosecuted by Mr O’Rorke, D.J., for permitting persons (under age) on the premises, and also for selling liquor to such persons.

A woman names Mrs O’Rourke, mother of the boy found on the premises, was also prosecuted. Mr Glynn defended.

Constable Confrey deposed that on March 5th, he observed a little boy named Thomas O’Rourke leaving Mr Cahill’s premises with a parcel under his arm. Witness asked the boy what was in the parcel, and the boy stated it was port, and the he was after getting his mother’s order. Witness obtained a certificate that the boy was not yet thirteen years of age.

Mr Glynn explained that Mr Cahill’s premises were divided, and that the front portion was allotted for the sale of provisions. To enter the bar, people had to leave the front portion and pass through a hallway.

The hardship on Mr Cahill in the case, he said, was that the young fellow’s mother was in the habit, unfortunately, of sending him for drink to bring home. He was sorry to say that the little boy was so well up that when he goes with the bottle, he leaves it in the provision department, and when taken away, he goes home.

On the occasion in question Mr. Cahill had a new assistant named Mr. Cox in the premises. They were busy in the premises, and the little fellow asked why they were not taking the bottle. Mr. Cox immediately took and filled the bottle, and gave it to the young chap, instead of having it sent up, as was formerly done by Mr Cahill’s own workman.

Chairman: It was a market day?

Mr Glynn: Yes, and it is a great hardship on Mr Cahill.

Mr O’Rorke withdrew the first charge and in the second Mr Cahill was fined 5s and costs.

In the charge against Mrs O’Rourke, her son Thomas stated that she sent him for the port and gave him the money to pay for it. He took it home to his mother. Mrs O’Rourke was fined 10s and costs.

1935

Buried alive

Two Galway labourers had a miraculous escape from living death in the early hours of Saturday morning last, when the trench in which they were working, at the entrance to the Dyke Road, Wood Quay, collapsed and buried them alive.

The two men are: Fergus Monahan,

Bohermore (widower), and Michael Hehir, Bohermore (married man). They started work on the trench at eleven o’clock on Friday night, as they were working on a night shift.

The trench, which was being dug for the purpose of laying new pipes to the waterworks, was being supervised by Mr. Alex Macdonald and his assistant, Mr. G Casserly, of Grealishtown, Bohermore, Galway.

It appears that the work was begun on the trench at 11 o’clock on Friday night. The men were digging all night, and at about 4.30am had reached the pipes. The trench by this time had reached a depth of about eight feet, and was three to four feet wide. In length it was about eight yards.

Messrs. Monahan and Hehir were standing in the bottom of the trench shovelling up the loose stone and rubble when the catastrophe occurred. The sides of the trench suddenly caved in before the horrified eyes of Mr. Macdonald and his assistant, and approximately forty tons of material buried the unfortunate men.

With great promptitude Mr. Macdonald sent for the Galway Fire Brigade, who were on the scene almost immediately. They started digging, and at first had to go very carefully, as they were afraid of hitting the buried mens’ heads. The scene was tense with emotion when, after twenty minutes’ digging, the head of the two unfortunates were uncovered.

They were, of course, unconscious, and the work of digging them out was carried on at a feverish pace. After about fifteen minutes the rescuers were able to lift them out of the trench. With all possible speed, they were rushed to the Central Hospital, Galway, where they are detained.

Mr. Alex Macdonald said that it was a horrifying experience.

“The work was proceeding without a hitch,” he said, “when suddenly the two sides of the trench caved in and the two men disappeared before my eyes. I sent for the fire brigade, and with the aid of my assistant, Mr. Casserly, immediately set about uncovering the heads of the men.

“I visited them in hospital this morning and I think they will be all right.”

On inquiry at the Central Hospital on Tuesday, a “Connacht Tribune” special representative was informed that Monahan was discharged from hospital that morning. Hehir’s condition is improving.

Trespassing sheep

A fine of 2s. 8d. and costs was imposed by Sean MacGiollarnaith, D.J., at Letterfrack district court on Stephen Walsh, Keelkyle, Letterfrack, for trespass of sixteen sheep, the property of defendant, on his land on March 23.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.