Galway In Time Gone By – A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune.

1914

Bailiff ‘dipped’

The unpleasant experiences of a water bailiff named John Rooney were mentioned at Oranmore Petty Sessions on Tuesday when Peter Duggan (Heavey), Thomas Duggan and Mary Duggan, were charged with allegedly beating and throwing complainant into the river near Oranmore.

In opening the case, Mr. Daly, who appeared for the complainant, said the assault was rather a serious one.

Peter Duggan, one of the defendants, asked to have the case adjourned, as summonses were received late.

Mr. Daly: The alleged assault took place on the 26th February, and I find the summonses were only issued on the 2nd March. Mr. St. George, C.P.S., said the summonses were only applied for on Saturday, the 28th February.

Mr. Daly: My client was confined to bed as a result of the assault. These men knocked him down, kicked him, and threw him into the river as you would a dead rat. The sergeant of the district was called upon to see this man and can describe the condition he was in. In fact, they did not want to murder him by blows, but to suffocate him in the water.

Chairman (to Peter Duggan): What do you want an adjournment for?

Defendant: I had a few witnesses.

Chairman: That you did not commit the assault?

Defendant: Yes, but I came in later on.

Chairman: What do you suggest the witnesses would prove, that you never beat Rooney?

Defendant: Yes.

It was agreed to adjourn.

Mr. Daly asked the injured man to step forward and show the marks on his neck. Mr. Daly also reminded the Bench that he had a black eye.

Chairman: Oh, we are not a coroner’s jury. We have not come to that … yet (laughter).

Mr. Daly: There is an Act brought in which transfers that duty to resident magistrates (laughter). My client is a water bailiff, and the other men, I believe, are poachers, which circumstance explains the attack made on him.

1939

Island isolated

When a young man from Galway quarrelled with a party of friends with whom he was touring Connemara on Sunday, he probably never foresaw all the trouble he was to give the Gardaí of Gort, Recess and Maam.

`Leaving his friends’ car beyond Maam Cross, this young man walked off “in a huff” towards Clifden at a late hour on Sunday night.

His friends, thinking that he would soon “cool off” waited for his return, but hours passed and he did not come back. The party then became alarmed and drove to Recess garda station, where they reported the matter.

The Recess Gardaí got in touch immediately with Gortmore and Maam and a wholesale search of the three sub-districts was instituted at about 2a.m. on Monday morning.

The search continued until late on Monday. Lake shores in the area were carefully patrolled in search of the man’s clothing or perhaps a farewell message. It was when excitement was at its height that a phone message from Galway brought anti-climax by stating that the man had been at home in Galway since early on Monday morning.

It appears that shortly after parting with his friends he met another party who gave him a seat hack to Galway. The Gardai declined to give the name of the young man to a “Connacht Tribune” reporter.

Amusements nuisance

By five votes to three, Galway Corporation at a meeting in the City Hall, decided to terminate Mr. A. Toft’s lease of Salthill Park and not to allow his amusements fair or any other amusements fair to enter the park this summer.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.