July 22, 2010

Date Published: {J}

Policeman charged

At the resumption of the business of the Galway Summer Assizes at half-past 10 o’clock on Tuesday, a Constable of the Royal Irish Constabulary pleaded “not guilty” to an indictment charging him with commiting a rape upon an old woman of 74 years of age, of the 28th April last.

Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, K.C. and Mr. Coll (instructed by Mr. Blake C.S.) prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. Macdermot (instructed by Mr. O’Dea solr) defended.

The story told by the prosecutrix, who is a widow residing alone at Rosdullis, was to the effect that prisoner came to her house whilst she was in bed, shortly after 12 o’clock on the night of 22nd April, threatened to break in the door and to burn the house.

He was in uniform and when she opened the door, he blew out the candle and assaulted her. Walking to the dock, she identified the prisoner as the man, after having first looked all round the Court.

Dr. Kennedy found no marks on [the alleged injured party] to indicate that an assault had been committed, as alleged.

For the defence, a number of policemen gave evidence to the effect that the prisoner returned from patrol at 11.30 o’clock on the night in question and went to bed. They expressed the belief that he could not have left the barracks subsequently without their knowledge. He did not sign the patrol book, although it is his duty to do so.

Prisoner was sworn and emphatically denied the assault. He forgot to sign the patrol book. Lord Chief Kenny, in addressing the Jury, said the case was a mass of impossibilities from beginning to end. The evidence given by the doctor, who was a Crown witness, was entirely in favour of the defendant. He found no marks on the woman. He asked the Jury to bring in a verdict of “not guilty”.

His Lordship directed Co. Inspector Flower to inform the constabulary authorities that the evidence given should not prejudice them against the constable. The prisoner was acquitted.

Mysterious vehicle

On Saturday evening, a strange vehicle pulled up at Fox’s public house in Church Street, Athenry, and many pedestrians halted to inspect it. On both sides police with rifle kept guard, while another man remained at the horse’s head. From inquiries I ascertained that it was one of Mr. Martin McDonough’s Monatigue transport cars which had come in with the thirsty emergencymen from Galway, who were saving the hay.

1935

Pool calls

The drowning tragedy in the River Suck on Sunday evening, when a young man in the town lost his life through sad circumstances there, calls attention once again to the need of a properly supervised pool.

Some time ago the provision of such was discussed when application for a grant to the Department for Local Government was made. The project, however, was allowed to drop and since then nothing has been heard of it.

Each year when summer comes round, the dangers to children swimming in the river are again the subjects of discussion, but it is only when tragedy occurs that the need for such a pool is emphasised. Numbers of young children may be seen any day risking their lives in parts of the Suck where there are dangerous currents, and where it is impossible to have any proper supervision over them.

Evictions

The eviction of eight families with their thirteen children, all young, from their homes in Kelly’s Lane, Ballinasloe, on Saturday evening, goes to show the pressing needs for more and more houses to accommodate the large number of congests in lanes and other areas on the town.

There are not nearly enough of houses in the town to accommodate the number needing houses, although the Council have, during the past few years, built up over 100 houses, 60 at present being in the course of construction.

Those eight families, however, evicted on Saturday night, will not be provided for in the houses when available as these houses are built for tenants in another condemned area, so that the eight families and the children who have been provided with temporary shelter in the disused and derelict wing of the fever ward at the old workhouse buildings will be compelled to remain in these unsuitable surroundings for an indefinite period, all housed together in one small building.

New road

Between 50 and 60 men are employed by the Galway Co. Council in the making of the cement road from Tuam to the Beet Factory. We understand that at the meeting of the Co. Council on Saturday, a motion will be put forward proposing that the rate of wages paid to labourers on this job (the present rate is 27s. a week) shall be increased.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.