BELFASTBELFASTMAGAZINEMAGAZINE
ISSUE 71
October 1977
BRUTAL IRISH MURDERSHead Severed
During Execution
Mass Murder in Sligo
Killer Doctor
from Cork
History
of
Donegall
Street
Victorian Belfast
Police Reports
The Case ofthe Child
‘Born of Shame’
Old Belfast Newspaper Reports
Exploring IrelandROSCOMMON
CASTLE
Page 2 Belfast Magazine
5 Churchill Street,Belfast BT15 2BP
Tel: 9031 0859 Fax 9035 1326E-Mail:
[email protected] Page:
www.glenravel.com
The Belfast Magazine is a bi-monthly publication
compiled by the Glenravel Local History Project. It
is just one of several Glenravel titles which aims to
promote an interest in the subject of local history. It
has always been claimed that history belongs of the
higher classes and looking at the way it has been
presented for decades then this would seem to be the
case. Glenravel are not interested in the history of
lords and earls, their estates and titles, instead we
are interested in the history of working class life.
We are not interested in politics either and we must
stress that if an article appears in the magazine which
appears to be a bit one sided then this is due to the
simple fact that it is taken from a Nationalist or
Unionist newspaper. We use both to try and
balance things out.
The Glenravel Local History Project is a local
historical scheme based in the North Belfast area.
It’s activities are centred around the educational
promotion and restoration of the areas historic
burying ground at Clifton Street and is named after
the nearby Glenravel Street which was destroyed to
make way for the disastrous Westlink road system.
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BELFAST MAGAZINE
Junction of Arthur Square and Ann Street in
the early 1800’s. The octagonal building at the
corner was an old coaching office which later
became a popular public house.
COVER PICTURE
2006
Today (January 2011)
Christmas cards were
first mass-produced in
the 1860s by the Belfast
printing company
Marcus Ward
Belfast Magazine Page 3
Victorian Belfast Police Reports
A Drunken Prank
James Hannon, who did not turn up for the court
sitting on the 26th November 1857 was charged
with riding a pony into a grocery shop in Great
Edward Street in Belfast. The accused was very
drunk at the time and was described by the
magistrate as "a drunken freak". He was fined 4s,
6d and costs in his absence.
A Juvenile Offender
A little girl named Catherine McCarter who was
around 10 years of age was charged with having
stolen two silver cups which belonged to Mr
William Thompson. Eliza Watson, who was a
servant of Mr Thompson’s, had been in charge of
the silver in the household and she appeared in
court to give evidence against the accused. On
the day of the theft she had met Catherine
McCarter in the hall of the house and she noticed
that McCarter had something under her shawl. She
asked the young girl what she was hiding and
McCarter replied that it was nothing, but Watson
insisted on searching her and found two silver cups
concealed under her arms. The cups had been on
the sideboard in the parlour and McCarter had
come from that direction. Constable Smith told
the court that he had found a towel on the person
of the accused which had not yet been identified.
The magistrate noticed that it was the third time
that McCarter had appeared in the court and
ordered her to be committed to jail for three
months and to be kept at school to undertake
needlework under the direction of the prison
governor.
Nuisance in Great Georges Street
Michael Carragher of 17 Alexander Street
appeared to answer a complaint of the local police
that he allowed waste, manure, stagnant water and
other offensive matter to remain in his yard in
Great
Elaine Hogg
Page 4 Belfast Magazine
George’s Street and that he also kept pigs in the
yard which caused great annoyance and nuisance
to members of the public in that area. In court
evidence was heard that the nuisance caused by
Carragher's yard had been going on for several
years but it had taken a visit by reporters from local
papers to bring the attention to the courts. The
reporters reported the matter to the police and
Inspector Lavery went to the place to have a look
at it and found what was a badly maintained and
kept yard. The accused gave the police a false
name and so notice on him to appear in court had
to be served on two occasions. Carragher had been
instructed to clear the yard after reports of the
nuisance appeared in the Newsletter, the Mercury
and the Ulsterman but he had not made any attempt
to remove the nuisance. The yard was described
as being "full of dirt and filth; and some drains in
it which were also full of filthy matter. There were
fourteen of fifteen pigs in the yard, and they were
allowed to go through it all. There was also heaps
of manure in it". Carragher was instructed to clean
all the dirt form the site, and to have it paved so
that it could be swept each day. He was also fined
£1 with 10s 6d costs and warned that he had duty
to care for the public as well as for himself and
while making money he was not at liberty to cause
a nuisance which might bring on disease in the
town. Carragher immediately paid the fine in full
and left the court.
A drunken car driver
John Smith a licensed cart driver and William
Miller a sailor were in court in October 1857
charged with being been drunk on the 30th October
and driving furiously a horse and cart. A Mr David
Riddell had witnessed the event and he described
in court that he had seen the two men get on the
cart at McGlades in Smithfield and that Smith was
so drunk that he sat on the cart with two passengers
and shouted at the sailor to get into the drivers’
seat. Miler asked Smith, who should have been
driving, where he should go and Smith replied "to
the lower regions". Then Miller drove up
Smithfield at a furious rate, calling at a house and
then proceeding along North Street at great pace,
driving dangerously; Riddell then intervened and
got them to stop the cart, and called the police.
Smith was fined 10s and costs or two weeks
imprisonment and Miller was fined 10s or one
week’s imprisonment.
Cruelty to animals
Thomas Fraser was prosecuted by Constable Hall
on behalf of the Society of Cruelty to Animals for
having wounded some cattle by putting them on
board the Whitehaven steamer. Frazer was seen
cutting the cows near the rump with a knife so that
blood came from the wounds and the constable
observed that he blood had run for over four inches
for the wounds. Frazer was ordered to pay a fine
of 10s with 10s costs.
An Injured Individual
Sylvester McGartlan who was well known to the
Belfast police courts was again in court charged
with using abusive language to Ann McKeown on
the 23rd October 1857. McGartlan had been in
court over 50 times in recent years, mostly on a
charge of woman beating, and it had been only 5
weeks since his previous appearance when he was
bound over to keep the peace after he had assaulted
Ms McKeown. The prosecutor asked the court to
make an example of McGartlan to which the
accused replied that "the world is making an
example of me and this court has robbed me out
and out. This court has taken the bed from under
me", to which the court erupted in laughter. Mr
Hunt the magistrate fined him 10s with costs or
two weeks in jail and McGartlan chose to go to
jail after the cross case of McGartlan against
McKeown and her husband for abusive language
at the same time and place was dismissed.
Malicious Damage
Two young boys called Edward Devlin and Henry
Hall were brought before the Belfast police courts
in November 1857 and charged with having
maliciously damaged the machinery in the
Mulholland Mill where they had been employed.
The boys admitted to having a conversation as to
Belfast Magazine Page 5
how they could stop the machinery in the mill and
it was alleged that Henry Hall then threw a
"pinion" into the machinery which caught fast
between two wheels resulting in one of the wheels
breaking, which damaged the shaft and the mill
machinery came to a standstill. The boys did not
admit to actually carrying out their plan and under
questioning the spinning master of the mill, Mr
Oyston, admitted to telling the boys after the
incident that if they admitted to causing the
damage that any punishment would be lighter and
perhaps most importantly to the boys, they would
not lose their jobs. The charge against the two
boys was immediately withdrawn as being unsafe
and the two boys were dismissed with a caution.
Pickpocket admits his profession
A fellow called Brown was in court on the 10th
November 1857 charged with assault on Catherine
McCormac. Brown and his friend Mr Kelly were
standing in Richie’s Place in Belfast when
Catherine McCormac walked past. Kelly gave her
a push and when she turned round she was struck
and knocked down by Brown who kicked her
when she was down. The case against Brown was
proved and the magistrate was lenient when he
sent him to jail for one month. However while
his friend Kelly was on the stand he was asked if
there was anything he could say on behalf of his
friend, Kelly was asked what he was doing in
Belfast. He declared that he was a pickpocket and
was quite open about how he made his money by
picking pockets, dealing in both hard and soft
goods, mainly pocket handkerchiefs. Kelly stated
that he did not know Brown very well and that he
had not seen him for over seven years, their last
meeting being in Scotland. Kelly denied that he
worked as a pickpocket anywhere else other than
Belfast and that he was not in the business of
running a pickpocket ring, he denied that he
employed others to carry out this "profession".
The prosecution then requested that the court do
something to deal with Kelly after his admission
of breaking the law but the Mayor did not believe
that the court could take action on the grounds
that there was no charge against him. The Mayor
also stated that perhaps Kelly had made his
admission without reflecting on the consequences;
in fact he wasn’t sure that he believed a word that
Kelly had said in court. He may have admitted to
being a pickpocket but there was no evidence that
he was carrying out his profession at that time in
Belfast and the court had no choice but to allow
Kelly to leave the court without being charged.
Page 6 Belfast Magazine
Extraordinary assault
John Carlisle Hall was charged with assaulting a
young man, John Wylie in Belfast in late
November 1857. Wylie gave evidence that he
was sitting on a bus opposite the Commercial
Buildings in Belfast and Hall was sitting on the
seat opposite him. Wylie saw that Hall was
carrying a large knife in his hand and Wylie was
in fear for his life and so he left his seat and went
to the other end of the bus but Hall followed him
and caught hold of him by his coat. The other
passengers on the bus intervened and caught hold
of Hall, holding him back so that he could not
assault Wylie any further. Hall threatened Wyle
by holding the knife against Hall but he did not
attempt to stab him and it was clear to everyone
on the bus that Hall was very much the worse for
drink at the time. Hall had no memory of the
attack and when he was arrested by the police he
did not offer any resistance to the arresting officer,
and did not make any real attempt to use the knife
against the police or any of the other passengers.
Hall had come to the attention of the police in
Belfast before through his violent behaviour when
he was drunk and the magistrate decided that he
had to pass the heaviest sentence that the law
allowed him on the accused. He told the court
that he had to do this in order to protect the public
from such person as Hall whose actions on the
public transport system had made it a feared place
for the law abiding citizens of Belfast. Halls
defence that he did not remember the event was
no excuse in the eyes of the law. The sentence of
the court was that he was to be imprisoned for
two months at hard labour and that before his
discharge he had to give security of £20 for
himself and two sureties of £10 to keep the peace,
or be of good behaviour for twelve months. If he
was in default he would go back to jail for a further
one month.
Belfast Magazine Page 7
Dr Houston Q.C. was the
prosecutor during the murder
case of Mary Toner, who died
aged only three months, in
Cookstown in July 1893. He
opened his case with a very
emotional statement;
Mary Toner was an infant of
three months old, and was an
illegitimate child. The life of
an infant was in the eye of the
law as sacred as the life of a
grown-up human being; and
a little child born of shame
was as much entitled to the
protection of society, and
perhaps more so, than any
individual in the whole
community.
So began the court case of
Margaret Burton who was
indicted for wilfully killing
and murdering little Mary
Toner.
Mary Toner was the child of
Ellen McDonagh, a mill
worker and who had been a
widow for many years.
While Ellen worked at the
local mill in Cookstown,
Margaret Burton looked after
The case of the child‘born of shame’
Mary. She had looked after
her since she was six weeks
old, and by all accounts Mary
was a well cared for and
healthy baby. When she was
a few weeks old she a
suffered some convulsions
but this had only occurred
once and she seemed well
enough for a child in her
circumstances.
Margaret Burton was paid
between nine pence and
eighteen pence each week to
care for Mary, depending on
whether she had to buy her
food. Mary was left at
Margaret’s house each day
around six o’clock and she
was collected at around five
o’clock again by her mother.
Margaret’s only day off was
Sunday, when Ellen didn’t
work. At five o’clock on
Saturday the 1st July 1893
Ellen collected Mary as usual
and the child was in good
health but a little more fretful
than normal.
According to Ellen she spent
the night at home with Mary
as the child had a disturbed
night and didn’t sleep. On
Sunday she recovered well
and slept as normal on
Sunday night. Ellen left
Page 8 Belfast Magazine
Mary at Margaret’s as usual
on Monday the 3rd July, but
Margaret was still asleep, and
her daughter took Mary and
placed her in a small box to
sleep.
Ellen returned to Margaret’s
at around nine o’clock and
gave her some breakfast of a
bottle of milk and then
returned to work.
The next thing she heard
about her child was when a
neighbour came to the mill
and told her to go quickly to
Margaret Burton’s house
because Mary was dead.
When she got to the house
Ellen found her baby daughter
Mary choking on milk, a
bottle of milk was on the side
table and Margaret was in an
agitated state. She had not
called a doctor but when the
doctor got to the house Mary
was dead.
Ellen was distraught and
accused Margaret of killing
her daughter and being drunk
in charge of her. Margaret
rushed off to the police where
she then accused Ellen of
dropping Mary over the
weekend and of being out at
a public house over the
weekend with the child with
her.
Margaret Burton was arrested
and charged with the murder
of Mary and medical
evidence suggested that Mary
had died as a result of injuries
which could have been
caused by a fall. She was
bruised and had received a
blow to her head, or had fallen
and struck her head.
Whatever had happened had
happened over the previous
couple of days according to
the doctors.
As the trial progressed there
were many witnesses who
talked about the kind of
mother Ellen was, many said
she was a heavy drinker, other
said she was a committed and
responsible parent. Witnesses
talked of Margaret’s devotion
to the child but also that she
was a heavy drinker and she
had complained about how
little money Ellen gave her to
feed the child.
The last witness called was a
young neighbour of Ellen’s
who shockingly told the court
that on the evening of the 1st
July he had seen Ellen with
Mary outside her house very
late at night and that Ellen
was drunk and arguing with
his mother. He saw Ellen lose
her temper and then throw
Mary down in anger into a
wooden box just inside her
house. The courtroom was
shocked and the judge
questioned this witness
closely as he suggested that
Mary had been killed by her
mother.
The witnesses account was
denied by his mother and
evidence was heard that he
had gone to bed early on that
Saturday night and couldn’t
have seen his mother and
Mary talking. He was
discredited but enough doubt
had been put in the minds of
the jury.
The judge summed up and the
jury retired for only a short
time returning with a verdict
of "not guilty" and Margaret
Burton was freed from
custody.
One of the great gaffes in social history took place at Stormont in the
1920s. During an important function, Northern Ireland minister
Dawson Bates - who was in attendance with his wife and son - entered
the main hall. As the party made their way towards the gathered
dignitaries, a flunky grandly announced 'the honourable Dawson
Bates, his wife Lady Bates and their son Master Bates'.
Belfast Magazine Page 9
Page 10 Belfast Magazine
OLD BELFAST NEWSPAPER REPORTSMay 1961Murder-bid husband in doctor’s care
Derek O’Hara, a 43
year old architect,
pleaded guilty to the
attempted murder of
his wife when he
appeared at the
Antrim Spring
Assizes.
He agreed on
instruction of Mr
Justice Sheil, to
willingly commit
himself to treatment
with a psychiatrist for
a period of not less
than 12 months. Mr
O’Hara was accused
of attempting to kill
his wife with a
hammer one evening
at their home in
Farmley Gardens in
Glengormley. He
was described in
court as being not an
"ordinary criminal"
and at the time Mr
Justice Sheil said;
I know you have had
a hard time, but
except for the mercy
of God, you would
have been tried for
murder – and there
would not have been
any answer to that
charge.
Mr Justice Sheil came
to his conclusions
after he consulted
with Dr Morris of
Purdysburn Hospital
where Mr O’Hara had
been placed for
assessment. The
judge made it very
clear that by sending
Mr O’Hara for mental
treatment he should
not think of it as a
sentence, or a
conviction, but that
the judge was taking
into account the
difficult time he had
been having and that
if he did not complete
the treatment he
would be returned to
the court to face a
custodial sentence.
Mr O’Hara thanked
the judge for his help
and understanding
and agreed to place
himself under the
care of Dr Morris.
Goodbye to the CanberraThousands of Belfast
families lined Belfast
Lough to watch the
P&O ship the
Canberra leave
Belfast for
Southampton for its
final fit out. The
45000 tonne vessel
was built in Harland
& Wolff and many of
the workers who
watched her leave did
so with sadness as
they knew that their
jobs at the shipyard
would end with the
ships leaving. As the
five tugs pulled her
out from the wharf to
work the Canberra
out of the narrow
berth some of the
yard employees sang
"Will ye no come
back again", an ironic
touch as P&O had
announced that all her
future refits would be
carried out at
S o u t h a m p t o n
because Belfast, at
the time one of the
largest shipyards in
Belfast Magazine Page 11
the UK had no dry
dock big enough. 400
men from Belfast
travelled with the ship
to Southampton to
help with the final
arrangements for the
liner. Despite the
sadness felt around
the docks area of
Belfast there was
some humour
expressed. The pride
which the shipyard
workers took in their
work on the Canberra
was evident by their
possessiveness. One
of the men remarked,
"There she goes, all
my blood and sweat
and toil". But his
mate remarked with a
sidelong glance,
"Away a ‘that, you
never even worked on
her".
Reported to have had
five previous
m o t o r i n g
convictions, Terence
Stephenson of
Westbourne Street in
Belfast was fined £20
at the Dungiven Petty
Sessions for driving a
car dangerously at
Belfast driver fined £20 and banned
M a g h e r a b u o y
County Derry. The
case came before the
courts due to a head
on collision and
Stephenson was also
disqualified from
driving for six
months. Also at the
Dungiven Petty
Session was 27 year
old Ann Barr of
Garvagh Road who
was fined £2 with £1
extra for costs for
driving a car
carelessly at
Dungiven.
Four brothers were
bound over to keep
the peace for two
years, with personal
bail of £10 each and
a surety of £10 each
after they assaulted a
man at Cashel near
Dungiven. Each of
the brothers was also
fined £5 each with
costs.
Polling took place in
the by election in
Bloomfield caused by
the departure of Lord
Glentoran, the former
Minister of
Commerce, from the
Commons to become
Leader of the Senate.
The Unionist
candidate was 52 year
Belfast goes to the pollsold builder Walter
Scott and the
Northern Ireland
Labour Party
candidate was Mr
Bob Bingham, a 34
year old engineer in
the aircraft factory.
Both candidates were
confident of winning.
Mr Terence
O’Neill, the
Minister of Finance
discussed on BBC
television the
difference between
the census in
Minister to discuss Ulster Census on TV
Northern Ireland
and that in Great
Britain. The
Minister answered
questions about the
census put by James
Hughes.
Firemen in Belfast
used breathing
apparatus to fight a
fierce fire at the
premises of the Jamal
Knitwear Co. on
North Street, Belfast.
The brigade was able
to confine the fire to
North Street Knitwear
Factory Firestock in a single
room on the first
floor of the building
and there was little
structural damage
caused due to the
firemen being able to
bring the blaze under
control quickly.
Forty-four year old Irishwoman Bridget
Driscoll achieved the dubious
distinction of becoming the first traffic
accident fatality of the modern age when
she was run over and killed by a car
careering along at four miles per hour
in Croydon, south London, in 1896.
Page 12 Belfast Magazine
Exploring Belfast’s Old StreetsRaymond O’Regan
DONEGALL STREETPart 2 Continued from Issue 12 of our title Old Belfast
T he old Exchange and
Assembly Buildings
(above) at the corner of the
street dating back to 1769/76
(its history was fully covered
when we took a trip along
Waring Street.) But just a
reminder of how important a
part this building played in
Irish History. Built as a single
story building in 1769 to
celebrate the birth of the
future and infamous 2nd.
Marquis of Donegall and
extended into a two storey
building in 1776 and became
known from then on as the
Exchange and Assembly
Building. In 1792 the famous
Harp Festival was held here
to celebrate Bastille Day and
Edward Bunting transcribed
the music of the ten harpists
to preserve the ancient airs of
Irish music that would have
been lost as the various old
harpists died and took their
music to the grave. In 1798
The trial of the famous United
Irishmen Henry Joy
McCracken who was found
guilty of treason, after the
failure of the "98 uprising,
and was hanged at the Market
House in High Street (site of
the present day Dunnes Store)
When the Commercial
Building just across the road
was completed in 1819 it took
over the functions of meetings
etc. The building eventually
became a bank in the late
1840s until it finally closed in
2002. It occasionally springs
back in to life when plays or
art exhibitions are held but its
future is probably still in the
balance. I hope the fire alarm
system is still working!
Number 14 – carpark
Number 16 - Alexander &
Graham Ltd. Wholesale
jewellers.
Number 18 - Clifton Services
Belfast Magazine Page 13
A view of Lower Donegall Street almost 200 years ago
with the Brown Linen Hall to the right
Numbers 20-22 – This
building dates back to 1920
but was the site of the Brown
Linen Hall which was
originally located were the
present day St. Anne’s
Cathedral is today. It was
moved to allow the 1775 St.
Anne’s Church to be built,
which was paid for by the Earl
of Donegal.
Number 24 – St. Anne’s
Building dates back to 1887.
It was originally a linen
warehouse. On the ground
floor of Nos 20 -24 is the
Home of the long established
wholesale jewellers Ellison
Brothers who have just
recently closed their doors.
Number s 26-30 – North
Street Arcade. Opened in
1936. This well known
arcade that housed many
small businesses was
destroyed by arsonists in 2004
and now lies derelict. It is
included in the Royal
Exchange redevelopment
plans. On this site was the
Brookfield Linen Company, a
mid 19th century building.
Even today if you look above
the entrance there is an
original plaque referring to its
former use (below).
Incidentally this destroyed
building is part of the Royal
Exchange redevelopment
plans for this area.
Number 36 – The site dates
back to the 1760’s when it
was the home of the famous
liberal educationalist David
Manson (below). Manson
would take his pupils along to
an area called Lilliput Farm.
that is toady's York Road
Station. No. 36 was later used
by the Provincial Bank of
Ireland. Today it is the site of
a modern building used by
SHAC (Student Housing) On
the ground floor can be found
the poster and clothes shops
Rip Off.
Page 14 Belfast Magazine
The large open area facing St.
Anne’s Cathedral once
housed shops and houses
dating back to Roger
Mullholland’s development
for Lord Donegall in the late
18th century. Many of the
older generation may
remember the shoe makers
shop that produced quality
hand made shoes. This
particular business found a
home in North Street Arcade
but due to the fire I believe is
no longer in business. .
This area is now known as
"Writers Square" and is the
venue for many festival
activities. A memorial was
erected in November 2008, to
the International Brigade. It
was erected in memory of
Brigade members from
Ireland who fought against
the fascist dictator Franco in
Spain in the 1930s. Anto, the
well known sculptor, was
responsible for the design of
this memorial.
Numbers 60-68 – Cathedral
Buildings. On this site in
1791 could be found the
fourth Presbyterian Church
(Nelson Memorial Church).
On the ground floor of the
present building can be found
Bagel Bagel, Cathedral
Graphics, Avar Business
Systems, WorkForce Ireland
Ltd, Hair Friendly , Work
Rest Play Interiors.
Numbers 70-74 – Part of
Mark Royal Building (right).
Junction of Donegall Street and Royal Avenue around 1910
Junction of Donegall Street and Royal Avenue around 1965
Belfast Magazine Page 15
Numbers 80-94– The journey
continues along Upper
Donegall Street . At the
corner is the extension of the
Belfast Telegraph Building. A
rather ugly building replacing
Georgian buildings including
Robinson's Temperance
Hotel.
Number 80 In the late 19th.
century was the home of the
solicitor John Rea one of
Belfast's many eccentrics. He
would one day be supporting
Orangemen and the next day
Nationalists. In Marcus
Patton’s book "Central
Belfast" he recalls one
description of Rea as follows
"HER ORTHODOX
P R E S B Y T E R I A N
BRITANNIC MAJESTIES
ORANGE – FENIAN
ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR ULSTER". Besides a
collection of swords and
pistols that would be found
lying about the different parts
of the building he also had
two dogs, two cats and to add
to his eccentricity he had on
each drawing room
windowsill cages containing
foul mouthed grey parrots.
Besides his son he had a niece
living with him called Orange
Mary Anne. Further up the
street some readers may also
remember Watsons Furniture
Store which used to side onto
McGlades Bar next door.
Number. 96 – Originally on
this site was the famous
"McGlades Bar" which then
became the "Penny Farthing"
both were popular with
journalists of the many
newspapers nearby. The
original name of the pub
when it first opened was The
Arcade Bar as it ran from
Donegall Street to Library
Street. The pub was allowed
to put its own label on
Guinness sold in its premises.
It was not for nothing that
Donegall Street was
compared to London’s Fleet
Street. Today after
refurbishing it is known as the
"Kremlin" with an imposing
statue of Lenin above the
entrance.
Numbers 98-102 – Meenan
and Company had their
premises here. It is now used
as an employment training
centre with the well known
solicitor’s practice of Pascal
O’Hare on the upper floors.
Number 102 In 1896 housed
the offices of the Vulcanite
Roofing Company who
specialised in providing flat
roofs which they claimed
were superior to the
conventional slated roofs.
Numbers. 106-108 –
McEllhattons Bar, known as
the "Front Page, "which dates
back to 1910. It is a popular
venue for music and was also
popular with journalists. The
Irish News is just across the
road.
Number 112 – On this site in
c1860 stood a Turkish baths.
It was also at one time a car
Page 16 Belfast Magazine
showroom for Dick and
Company, distributors of Fiat
motors. They also had a
showroom across the road .
Today it houses a youth
project.
Numbers. 114-118 – The
famous Hugh O’Kane and
Company dating back to
1865. They still use today, on
certain occasions the
beautiful black horses to pull
the hearses that were a
common sight up to the
1950’s.
Number s. 120-138 – "Marshal
Building "1894 with shops on
the ground floor. One of the
most interesting shops was
"Marshals" (directly next door
to O’Kanes). It was famous for
the supply of many foreign
newspapers and magazines.
The present occupiers, Paul
Steele Consulting PScAtiviva,
still retain, above the entrance
the famous Marshals name
plate. Next door was Belfast
Central Training, Fruit Shop,
Marty Quinn’s Hairdressing,
(Marty at one time worked out
of 211 Donegall Street which
was one of the Georgian
buildings that were
demolished in 1990 as part of
a road widening scheme.
Champagne & Roses,
Lavibelle African&Caribbean
Hairdressing, Clifton Taxis,
Donegall Chambers; offices of
James Johnson & Co.
Solicitors
The building next door was
destroyed by a bomb in the
1970s causing a large piece of
wood to become embedded in
the structure of St. Patrick’s
Church across the road. It is
now a private car park.
The previous corner building
is now part of a car park that
borders Donegall Street and
Carrick Hill
Belfast map of 1888
showing Donegall Street
Facing page map of 1960
showing Donegall Street
Belfast Magazine Page 17
Page 18 Belfast Magazine
Sorry no Kids
Belfast Magazine Page 19
EXPLORING IRELANDEvery week members of the Glenravel Project visit different sites of historical
interest throughout the country. For up to date information on all the latest
trips visit the Facebook page of the Glenravel Local History Project
R o s c o m m o n
Castle is
located just outside
Roscommon town. It
was built in 1269 by
Robert de Ufford,
Justiciciar of Ireland,
on lands he had
seized from the
Dominican Priory.
The castle was
besieged by the
Connacht King Aodh
O'Connor in 1272.
Eight years later it
was again in the
ROSCOMMON CASTLE
hands of the English
garrison, and fully
restored. By 1340 the
O'Connors regained
possession of it, and
held it for two
centuries until 1569,
when it fell into the
hands of Sir Henry
Sidney, Lord Deputy.
In 1641 the
P a r l i a m e n t a r i a n
faction gained it until
C o n f e d e r a t e
Catholics under
Page 20 Belfast Magazine
Preston captured it in
1645. It remained in
Irish hands until 1652
when it was partially
blown up by
C r o m w e l l i a n
"Ironsides" who had
all the fortifications
dismantled. It was
finally burned down
in 1690 and thus it
gradually fell into
decay.
The castle is
quadrangular in shape
with rounded bastions
at the corner, and a
d o u b l e - t o w e r e d
entrance gate, as well
as a rectangular gate
tower in the west
wall. After 1578 Sir
Nicholas Malby
carried out extensive
alterations and
inserted a number of
mullioned windows
as well as adding a
number of buildings
on the north side of
the castle.
The Friary was
founded for the
Dominicans by Felim
O'Conor, Lord of
Roscommon, in 1253
and was consecrated
in 1257. The church
originally consisted
of one long aisle.
The north transept
was added in the 15th
century. The most
remarkable feature of
the Friary is the effigy
of Felim O'Conor in
a niche in the north
wall near where the
altar stood.
The effigy, carved
between 1290 and
1300, has been placed
upon a later 15th
century tomb with
eight mail-clad
warriors (seven with
swords, and one with
a battle axe) in niches
with angels above
them. On the opposite
wall are traces of
another 15th century
tomb.
Belfast Magazine Page 21
OCTOBER 1977
Page 22 Belfast Magazine
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Glenravel Local History Project
The army returned to
the wreckage of the
Gainsborough Bar in
Derry after another
warning was received
that there was a bomb
still in the debris. The
bar was blasted by a
bomb left in the
Saturday 1st October 1977toilets a week earlier.
The army defused a
100lb bomb found
hidden in a hedge
near Crossmaglen.
The device, two milk
cans packed with
explosives and metal
fragments, was
neutralised by two
c o n t r o l l e d
explosions. Wires led
from the bomb to a
detonating point.
An incendiary device
went off in an off
licence in the
Ladybrook district.
Another device went
off outside premises
at the Ladybrook
Park, Finaghy Road
North. The off
licence suffered slight
smoke and water
damage.
Monday 3rd October 1977A gunman fired a shot
through the bedroom
window of a house in
A n d e r s o n s t o w n ,
Belfast. The shot was
fired at the house in
Riverdale Park South.
The bullet struck a
bedroom wall, but an
18 year old girl and
her seven year old
brother who were
asleep in the room,
were not hurt.
A single shot was
fired at an army foot
patrol operating
within yards of the
border at
F l u r r y b r i d g e
Jonesborough, South
Armagh. Fire was
returned, but no hits
were claimed.
An incendiary device
discovered in Peters
Bar, in Belfast’s
Gresham Street, was
defused by an army
bomb expert and no
damage was caused.
A petrol bomb thrown
into Ingram’s
builder’s yard in
Newington Street in
the Antrim Road area
set the premises on
fire.
The army found and
made safe a bomb in
a Derry city centre
pub which had been
damaged a week
earlier.
In Belfast an army
patrol found a
revolver and four
grenades in waste
ground near Ardilea
Street.
Tuesday 4th October 1977A windscreen of an
army helicopter was
broken as it landed at
the border near
Jonesboro. The army
believed that it was
broken by a snipers
bullet, fired at the
chopper.
A closed off alleyway
made soldiers on
patrol suspicious, and
when they examined
the area they found 13
incendiary devices
behind the board
blocking the narrow
walkway between
Chatham and Herbert
Streets in the
Ardoyne area of
Belfast.
A cassette type
incendiary burst into
flames in a waste bin
of the Crows Nest
pub in Skipper Street
Belfast Magazine Page 23
but caused no
damage. A similar
device found in a
lavatory was made
harmless.
Two soldiers received
minor injuries in an
explosion near
Crossmaglen. The
blast happened at
Culloville crossroads
when a patrol from
the Queens Regiment
was passing.
Wednesday 5th October 1977The leader of the Irish
Republican Socialist
Party, Mr Seamus
Costello was shot
dead in Dublin. A
man ran up and shot
him twice with a
sawn off shotgun as
he was about to get
out of his car at
Northbrook Avenue
in the North Strand
area. Mr Costello, a
self employed
electrician, had pulled
up near a DIY shop to
get supplies when the
gunman struck. It
was believed by the
Gardai that Mr
Costello was shot by
the IRA which had
been involved in a
number of bloody
feuds with the IRSP.
The Official IRA
issued a statement
denying any
connection with the
murder. Married and
living in Co Wicklow,
Mr Costello had been
a prominent member
of the republican
movement for many
years. He survived a
previous attempt on
his life in 1975 when
his car was fired on in
Waterford.
Thursday 6th October 1977Five shots were fired
by sentries guarding
Portlaoise jail. A
soldier fired one shot
in the direction of a
man who was said to
be acting suspiciously
near the prison. Five
hours later another
sentry fired shots at a
man he claimed he
saw pointing a rifle
towards the jail.
Five masked gunmen
ordered electricity
workers setting up a
cross border power
link near
Crossmaglen to stop
work. The workmen
were erecting a pylon,
part of the linkup
between Tandragee
and Maynooth, when
the gunmen came on
the site. They
threatened the men
and ordered them to
leave the area.
In Belfast an off duty
UDR man opened fire
on two men who set
fire to an off licence.
He fired three shots at
them as they ran out
of the building but no
hits were claimed.
Friday 7th October 1977Eight people were
arrested when police
broke up rival stone
throwing crowds in
the Short Strand area
of East Belfast. The
incidents occurred at
Seaforde Street and
the windscreen of a
car was smashed by a
stone.
Two youths were
detained in Belfast
when two rounds of
ammunition were
discovered at a
segment checkpoint.
A 22 year old man
was questioned after
the discovery during
a security search of
Page 24 Belfast Magazine
15lb of gelignite in a
dustbin at a house in
Dunedin Park.
Two windows of a
Citybus were broken
when the vehicle
came under attack
from stone throwing
youths near Torrens
Avenue on the
Oldpark Road. No
one was injured.
Later another bus had
a window broken by
a stone at Ardilea
Street. There were no
injuries.
The army carried out
a controlled
explosion on a
suspicious car at
Thistle Street,
Belfast. The car
which was stolen in
Holywood turned out
to be harmless. A
window of a nearby
house was broken by
the force of the blast.
Saturday 8th October 1977Mr Desmond Irvine,
a prison officer at the
Maze, was shot dead
as he drove from a
meeting at
Wellington Park. Mr
Irvine was hit in the
head and died
minutes later on the
way to hospital, at
least nine bullets hit
the car. Mr Irvine
who lived at
Skegoneill Avenue,
Belfast, had agreed
recently to be
interviewed in front
of cameras for the
Thames Television
‘This Week’
programme called
‘Life behind the wire’
as he believed that
those who wished to
harm him already
knew of his identity
and whereabouts and
that appearing in a TV
programme would
add no extra risk to
the risk he and his
men ran every day.
The programme was
aired on the 22nd
September. The IRA
admitted killing him
and in a statement
stated ‘Mr Irvine was
consciously aware
and fully recognised
that jailed republicans
were prisoners of war.
Despite this, he and
his colleagues
continue to
implement Mason’s
policy of classifying
political prisoners as
‘criminals’. In these
circumstances and for
these actions they can
expect to be attacked.’
Mr Irvine was the
area secretary of the
Prison Officers
Association. Visits to
all prisons were
banned until after Mr
Irvine’s funeral.
Security forces on
both sides of the
south Armagh border
investigated the firing
of 60 shots. The shots
were heard in the
Forkhill RUC station
and appeared to come
from Carrive Grove,
one mile away.
21lb of explosives
were used in a bomb
which damaged the
security screen at the
RVH in Belfast. The
explosives were in a
duffle bag partly
pushed under the
screen which had
been erected to
protect workers who
were building a
security wall at the
Falls Road end of the
hospital. The screen
was damaged but the
wall was not hit. A 23
year old woman who
was driving past was
slightly hurt when a
piece of shrapnel hit
her in the thigh and a
48 year old woman
who was walking past
the hospital suffered
car damage. A
second suspect device
was found at the
screen, but it turned
out to be a hoax. The
Falls Road was
closed for several
hours as army
engineers repaired the
damage.
A 23 year old man
from Ardoyne was
charged with having
explosives in the city.
The man from
Duneden Park faced a
charge of having a
quantity of gelignite
at Duneden Park
under suspicious
circumstances.
www.glenravel.com
Belfast Magazine Page 25
Monday 10th October 1977Firebombs ignited in
two cinemas, one in
Belfast and one in
Comber. Two
firebombs exploded
in the Strand cinema
on the Holywood
Road in Belfast but
no damage was
caused. The small
blazes were quickly
extinguished. At
Comber one seat was
slightly damaged
when a fire bomb
ignited. Two more
fire bombs were
found in the Comber
cinema after a search
and they were made
harmless.
The Regent cinema in
Newtownards was
destroyed by fire and
fires at the Queens
Cinema in Bangor
and the Regal Cinema
in Larne were all
started by incendiary
devices. At the
Regal, the balcony
and the interior of the
roof were extensively
damaged. Damage to
the Queens Cinema
was minor.
Incendiary devices
were used in the
Helmsman Bar in
High Street, Bangor
and in the insurance
office in Town Hall
Street, Enniskillen.
Two firebombs found
in the Hayloft Bar in
Derry, on Bridge
Street, were defused
by the army.
Twenty four year old
Greenfinch, Private
Margaret Hearst, was
shot dead in her
home. Private Hearst
lived with her three
year old daughter in a
mobile home (below)
in the garden of her
parents’ cottage at
Doogary, Tynan in
the south Armagh-
Monaghan area. She
died instantly when
the IRA gunmen
sprayed her bedroom
with 10 shots from an
automatic weapon.
Her daughter who
awoke frightened and
screaming as bullets
ripped through the
caravan had a
miraculous escape
when the gunmen
fired into a wood
partition separating
the sleeping
compartments. The
killing of this young
UDR woman brought
w i d e s p r e a d
condemnation from
church and civic
leaders from all
communities.
A part time member
of the UDR for four
years, Private Hearst,
was employed as a
civilian clerk on a full
time basis at the
Second Volunteer
Armagh Battalions
headquarters in the
city. Greenfinches
did not carry arms
and the regiments
CO, Colonel Richard
Stephens stated they
had previously been
protected by common
decency.
Page 26 Belfast Magazine
Tuesday 11th October 1977Two men were
arrested and charged
with the attempted
murder of a man
found seriously
injured with gunshot
wounds near his
home in Twadell
Avenue. The men
from Ladybrook
Drive and Eskdale
Gardens were also
charged with
membership of the
IRA.
Wednesday 12th October 1977A 47 year old school
bus driver was shot
dead and a schoolgirl
was injured in an
ambush in Tyrone.
The RUC believe that
the intended target
was a part time UDR
man and the wrong
man was shot.
The UDR man was
off ill from the school
run and his stand in,
a married man from
Carrickmore was
caught in the ambush
instead. Two gunmen
were lying in wait at
a lonely pick up point
on the Sixmilecross,
Ballygawley Road
and they opened fire
when the driver
parked his bus. The
man who died in a
hail of bullets was
named as Mr Frank
Canavan, from
McKeowns Villas. A
15 year old girl, the
only passenger on the
bus, was grazed on
the head by a bullet.
The dead man had no
connection with the
security forces, and
was called upon from
time to time by the
Western Education
and Library Board to
act as a relief driver if
one of the regular
drivers fell ill. Mr
Canavan, normally
unemployed, had just
parked his bus
alongside an old
single storey school
building at Tirnaskee,
two miles from
Ballygawley, when
the gunmen struck
from behind. They
stepped out of the
porch of the building
and opened fire. The
bullets smashed
through windows and
the back of the
driver’s seat.
Minutes later another
school bus came on
the scene and was
hijacked by the
killers. They forced
the driver to drive
towards Carrickmore
where they hijacked
another car and then
abandoned it six
miles away.
Thursday 13th October 1977The RUC raided the
headquarters of
Provisional Sinn Fein in
Belfast. A RUC
spokesman said a number
of documents were taken
from the building on Falls
Road and were being
examined. A man
detained during the search
operation was later
released. The raid was
part of a series of raids on
Sinn Fein offices in New
Lodge, Ardoyne,
Andersonstown and
Ballymurphy.
A quantity of shotgun
cartridges, documents and
pairs of surgical gloves
were found by security
forces during a raid on
premises in the Falls Road
area.
Incendiary devices started
a fire at the Strathearn
Hotel in Holywood. The
night security guard
managed to evacuate all
guests and staff but the
building was badly
damaged.
Belfast Magazine Page 27
Friday 14th October 1977There were fire bomb
attacks on the Chimes
Restaurant and the
Chester Arms pub
near Belfast city
centre. Three devices
were planted in the
Chimes Restaurant,
one exploded causing
little damage and the
other two were taken
away by the army
after they were
spotted by the staff.
An incendiary burned
itself out in the ladies
lavatory of the
Chester Arms pub.
No one was hurt and
little damage was
caused.
The army discovered
an arms dump in a
house in Newry. They
found a machinegun, a
pistol, 20lbs of
c o m m e r c i a l
explosives, two
homemade grenades,
three magazines, a
double barrelled
shotgun, 73 assorted
bullets, two mortars,
and bomb making
equipment in the house
in Chapel Street. Two
radio receivers were
also uncovered.
Monday 17th October 1977The army defused an
incendiary device
found in Grafton’s
clothes shop Castle
Lane, Belfast. No
damage was caused
but the immediate
area was evacuated
for a short time.
A 28 year old
labourer of Denmark
Street in Belfast was
charged with
possessing a Walther
pistol in suspicious
circumstance in Park
Avenue, Belfast.
Tuesday 18th October 1977A 67 year old former
part time policeman
was shot dead outside
Armagh. Mr John
Anderson from
Barrack Street in
Armagh was a
member of the RUC
Reserve for many
years. Two gunmen
opened fire on his car
at Grivan’s Bridge
almost four miles
from Armagh and as
the bullets ripped
through his car he lost
control and the car
ploughed through the
stone bridge wall,
falling 15 feet onto
the river bank. The
gunmen then drove
up to the bridge and
continued to pump
more high velocity
bullets in the wrecked
car. Mr Anderson
was a taxi owner and
was on his way home
from a run when he
was ambushed on a
sharp corner. He had
earlier left officials
from the Department
of Health and Social
Services to the
u n e m p l o y m e n t
exchange in Keady.
Mr Anderson also
owned a hairdressing
business in Armagh
and was well known
in the area.
A motorist was shot
as he drove along a
city centre street in
Belfast. He was hit in
the shoulder when a
youth fired two shots
through the side
window of his
Hillman Avenger car
in Franklin Street.
The army and RUC
found more than 1300
bullets buried in a
yard at Kilmood
Street in the Short
Strand area of
Belfast.
A controlled
explosion set off by
the army in Ligoneil
caused widespread
damage. The blast
broke 20 windows in
Finlay Street and
damaged a car and a
motorcycle.
Wednesday 19th October 1977The famous Elliot’s
store in Ann Street
was burned out after
an incendiary device.
The spectacular blaze
swept through the
premises, exploding
sparklers careered
into the air making
the firemen’s job
more difficult.
Three hundred
primary school pupils
were given a day off
after a bomb blast in
Portadown. The
explosion happened
as bomb experts tried
to defuse a booby
trapped hand
Page 28 Belfast Magazine
grenade, believed left
for a part time
member of the RUC.
It was found in a milk
crate outside
Ballyoran School.
The area was
cordoned off as the
army defused the
device.
Only moderate
damage was caused
to the Kilwee cash
and carry firm in
Upper Dunmurry
Lane when it was
firebombed for the
fifth time. The
remains of two
incendiary devices
were discovered in
the building after the
fire.
A 54 year old sales
rep was shot as he sat
in his car in Franklin
Street but was not
seriously injured.
One man fired three
shots into the car
hitting the man on the
shoulder.
The army carried out
a controlled
explosion on a
landmine near
C r o s s m a g l e n .
Windows in a nearby
school were broken
by the blast.
A bag found at a
department store in
Royal Avenue turned
out to be harmless.
The area was cleared
for several hours
while bomb experts
examined it.
A petrol can with
wires attached found
on the road near
Newcastle was a
hoax.
Thursday 20th October 1977Sixty four year old
George Wilson was
shot dead when two
gunmen fired eight
automatic rounds at
him as he tended
plants at his home at
Ainsworth Pass off
the Shankill Road.
Mr Wilson died
instantly from
wounds to his chest
and head but no
motive for the killing
was apparent.
Bombs exploded
without warning
outside the Belfast
homes of two prison
officers but no one
was hurt. The first
attack was at a house
in Lisburn Avenue
when the bomb blew
in the front door. A
woman in the house
was hit in the back by
the door which flew
several feet down the
hallway. She was
treated for shock.
The explosion blew a
crater in the ground
outside the door and
broke windows in
surrounding homes.
Nearly three hours
later a bomb left on
the windowsill of a
house at Jellicoe Park
exploded, damaging
the roof of the
buildings. The prison
officer and his wife
and daughter were in
a rear room at the
time.
Friday 21st October 1977A number of people
were questioned after
an army search in the
Brandywell area of
Derry found a
quantity of
ammunition during a
search.
An apprentice
engineer was charged
with possessing a .22
Mauser rifle with
intent. The man from
New Barnsley Drive
denied the charge.
An unemployed
Carrickfergus barman
of Woodburn Avenue
was accused of
possessing two
shotguns, a pistol and
a quantity of
ammunition.
Saturday 22nd October 1977A gunman fired one
shot at an army
mobile patrol in
Derry but no one was
hurt. The shooting
happened at the
junction of
Duncreggan Road
and Northland Road.
Fire wasn’t returned.
Three members of
staff were slightly
injured in a blaze at
the Town and
Country Inn at
Regent Street,
Newtownards after
two firebombs
ignited. Fireman
from Bangor and
Newtownards took
hours to bring the fire
Belfast Magazine Page 29
IRA firebomb attack on the Town & Country
IRA firebomb attack on the Greenan Lodge
under control and at
one stage the fierce
fire threatened to
engulf the nearby St
Marks rectory.
Four bombs exploded
in the Greenan Lodge
in Dunmurry just
after a dance had
finished.
Fifteen bombs were
planted on trains and
stations at Lisburn,
Portadown and York
Road in Belfast. The
attack on the railway
system caused huge
disruption to the
n e t w o r k .
I n c e n d i a r i e s
exploded on carriages
and one device was
defused in
Portadown. No one
was injured. Many of
the devices had been
concealed in seats
and on the platforms.
A 27 year old
policeman escaped
serious injury when
he was fired on while
leaving his home at
Eglinton near Derry.
One shot was fired
hitting him in the
right thigh.
A 23 year old barman
of Benares Street in
Belfast was charged
with possessing with
intent two armalite
rifles, a Gerand rifle,
a .38 revolver three
magazines and 90
rounds of assorted
ammunition.
Monday 24th October 1977Four soldiers injured
during riots in the
New Barnsley area
were not seriously
hurt. They were
attacked by a mob
and back up troops
from the Gordon
Highlanders, the
Argyles and the Light
Infantry were called
in. The violence
lasted for three hours.
In Portadown five
shots were fired at an
army patrol in the
Ballyoran district but
there were no injuries
and in the Drumcree
area a small bomb
was found and made
harmless.
Five shots were fired
at Forkhill RUC
station but no one was
injured.
Page 30 Belfast Magazine
Tuesday 25th October 1977An imitation gun was
recovered at the scene
of a hijacking in north
Belfast when a 16
year old boy was shot
dead by soldiers.
Michael Neill of
Stanhope Drive was
shot three times by
soldiers and died in
hospital a short time
later. The army at the
time refused to
comment on the
circumstances of the
shooting. The RUC
released a statement
saying that a Citybus
was flagged down by
a girl at the Junction
of the Cliftonville
Road and Oldpark
Avenue. Two youth
ran out and stopped
the bus, got on and
ordered everyone off
the bus. They then set
the bus on fire (right)
and at this point an
army patrol arrived
and challenged the
boys but they ran off.
The patrol then fired
three shots and Neill
was hit in the leg arm
and chest. He was
found lying in a
gateway nearby.
Wednesday 26th October 1977A firebomb
completely destroyed
the Greenan Lodge
Hotel in Dunmurry.
All the hotel records
were destroyed when
fire swept through the
whole hotel. Three
incendiary bombs
exploded shortly after
a warning had been
received. There were
no injuries.
Thursday 27th October 1977A part time UDR
officer was seriously
injured when a booby
trap bomb ripped
through his car
outside his
Magherafelt home.
His two young
children missed being
caught in the
explosion only by
seconds. They were
about to leave their
home a Coolshinney
Park when the device
exploded. The 34
year old bank
employee had just
started his car in the
garage when the
bomb exploded. He
suffered severe leg
injuries and the blast
also demolished a
gable wall of the
garage. The injured
man was a lieutenant
in 5 UDR stationed in
Derry.
The army found 136
assorted bullets at the
rear of a factory at
Brownstone Road,
Portadown.
Friday 28th October 1977Two men from the
Ardoyne area of
Belfast were
questioned in Dublin
after the discovery of
20 firebombs in a
field at Santry, on the
main Dublin to
Belfast road. The
incendiaries were
found by two boys
who told a local
priest.
A part time UDR man
injured in a blast at
his Magherafelt home
had his leg amputated
and his condition was
described as serious.
Belfast Magazine Page 31
The remains of the Strathearn Hotel,
Holywood, following an IRA firebomb attack
IRA firebomb attack on the Universal
Furnishing Store, York Street
Saturday 29th October 1977A Belfast city centre
shop was badly
damaged in a
firebomb attack.
Extensive damage
was caused to stock in
Trueform shoe shop
in Upper North Street
and nearby buildings
was damaged by
smoke.
Two old rifles and
nearly 160 bullets
were found by a UDR
patrol in a stream on
the outskirts of
Castlecaulfield, near
Dungannon.
Monday 31st October 1977A pub owned by the
former Stormont
Minister of
Commerce Mr Roy
Bradford was badly
damaged by fire.
The Stag Inn near
Shaw’s Bridge was
targeted with
firebombs and the
firemen were unable
to combat the blaze
due to a suspect gas
cylinder bomb which
later turned out to be
a hoax
Anti H Block protest outside the EEC
headquarters in Brussels
Page 32 Belfast Magazine
BRUTAL IRISH MURDERS
Andrew Carr was from Kildare and when he
was a young man he enlisted in the 87th
regiment. He received an excellent education
for a person of his station in life, his conduct
was exemplary and he quickly rose through
the ranks from a private to a colour sergeant.
He was also described a being a very good-
looking young man who paid great attention
to himself and his duties.
While stationed at Tullamore he became
acquainted with a Margaret Murphy, one of
five daughters of a farmer who lived in the
neighbourhood. Their relationship at the time
was described as ‘improper intimacy’ and by
the time he was ordered for foreign service
Margaret found she was disgraced and
rejected by her family. She moved to Dublin
where she became an outcast on the streets.
Everyday she sank lower and lower in vice
and infamy, she became an inmate of one of
the many dens in Bull Lane near the Four
Courts. The whole area had quite a reputation
in the nineteenth century. By 1862 Andrew
Carr returned from India, and went to live with
Margaret in a hovel kept by a woman named
Brien and stayed there for one week. The
couple argued all week and Margaret ended
up in hospital and Carr returned to duty in the
army. He was heard by many at the time to
swear that he would "get" Margaret. His
behaviour at work changed and he soon was
reduced in rank and remained in his demoted
position until May 1870 when he was
discharged on a pension after a service of
HEAD SEVERED DURING EXECUTION
twenty five years. He returned to Dublin and
found Margaret Murphy, who was by now
living in rented accommodation, in the Bull
Lane area, owned by the infamous Ellen
Hynes. Andrew Carr and Margaret lived for
three weeks among the vice and dissipation
until Carr’s pension ran out.
They began to argue all day while under the
influence of drink and by evening the words
turned to threats. One evening they returned
to their home after drinking all day. Carr left
for a short time and went for another drink,
returned and then left a short time later to look
for a policeman. He eventually found one
and told him that he had committed a murder
and showed him his hands that were covered
in blood and he had a cut on his wrist. The
police went to Bull Lane and discovered lying
Belfast Magazine Page 33
beneath an open back window the lifeless
corpse of Margaret Murphy. The wound in
her throat gaped open, so much so that it
appeared as though the head had been sliced
from her body. Her clothes were saturated in
blood and she lay in a room with broken
windows.
The walls were covered in filth and all the
doors in the house were falling off their
hinges. The door panels were broken and the
stench of sewage rotting in the back yard was
unbearable. The crime scene appeared to have
been the site of a great deal of violence. The
house occupied by Margaret Murphy and
Andrew Carr contained no furniture, two
heaps of dirty straw and a black mattress was
all that was found.
Six days after the murder Carr was tried and
convicted of the brutal murder of Margaret
Murphy. The jury recommended him to
mercy but despite a petition handed to the
Lord Lieutenant in London signed by many
prominent Dublin citizens his execution was
set for three weeks. Carr’s execution was to
be the first that the city of Dublin had
witnessed in thirty years and the first
execution in the Richmond Bridewell. In
accordance with the requirements of the new
act of Parliament all execution were to be
carried out within the walls of prisons and not
in public.
Around twenty people attended the execution
of Andrew Carr. The Chaplin bid him a final
farewell and as the noisy bell of the prison
was ringing, the executioner drew the bolt and
the drop fell. Carr’s body fell and when the
rope stretched with a burning sound, the
headless body of Carr landed with a thud on
the shingle below followed soon afterwards
by his head encased in the blood saturated
hood.
The press present at the execution reported
the unspeakable horror depicted in every face
in the room and so quick and appalling was
the event that for a long time no person moved
from the place they had been standing. The
empty noose swung to and fro in the morning
breeze and Andrew Carr passed away forever
for his crimes. All present left the building
immediately and such was the shock and
horror of the proceedings that calls were made
for the immediate end of all hangings and an
alternative method put in place to deter serious
crimes. One of the first suggestions was the
demolition of Bull Lane, which had been the
scene of several murders and various other
crimes from vice, assault and robbery.
Everyday Margaret Murphy sank lower
and lower in vice and infamy
Page 34 Belfast Magazine
At a special court held by Mr J C
Gardiner on February 23rd 1909 in
County Galway two brothers,
Michael and Bartley Coyne, were
charged with the wilful murder of
James Bailey on February 2nd. Both
men insisted that the body that had
been found in the Bailey house at
Lettermore, was not that of James
Bailey. He, it was claimed, had been
taken away by the fairies. Today such
a claim would be laughed out of court
but in 1909 it made headline news
throughout the country.
TOLD SON WAS DEAD
A Constable Sullivan gave evidence
that he had arrested Michael Coyne
and Michael gave a statement to the
police noting that he had nothing to
do with Bailey’s death. A statement
noting the same was also given by
Bartley Coyne to the police and was
read out in court. Depositions taken
were then read. In them, James
Bailey, the father of the dead man,
stated that the prisoners and others
were in his house and had left to go
to a dance. On the following morning
he was told his son was dead. He
found him outside Daly’s house and
Michael Coyne, who was standing at
the gate said, "Do not mind your son.
He is gone. It is not he who is there
at all. He is gone away."
Taken Away by the FairiesJohn Daly, a neighbour, did not speak
to Bailey about the death of his son
or tell him what had happened except
that there had been a row that started
in the house, continued outside, and
that his son had been carried home on
a shutter.
CRIED AND WAILED
Bridget Bailey gave evidence that
when she saw her brother dead she
had cried and wailed and that when
Michael Coyne had seen her distress
had said to her; "Don’t cry. James is
gone away since last night, and I know
that he is gone." Miss Bailey then
remembered that Michael, the elder
of the two brothers, tried to persuade
her that her brother had been taken
away by the fairies and that it was not
her brother lying there dead.
WRESTLING MATCH
Richard Bailey, the brother of the
deceased gave evidence, which
brought some light to the situation.
He told the court that a crowd had
been in Daly’s house after the dance
and that some whisky was taken.
About half-an-hour later his brother
James left Dalys with Bartley Coyne.
This was the last time that Richard
saw his brother alive. Mary Daly also
gave evidence that Michael Coyne
had challenged any man who would
Belfast Magazine Page 35
wrestle him would receive a half
gallon of whisky. James Bailey asked
him to shake hands but Michael
refused and the two men went outside
to wrestle. Michael Coyne got the
better of his opponent very quickly
and struck James Bailey hard and he
fell, with Michael falling on top of
him, continually striking him with his
fists. Bailey managed to scramble to
his feet a couple of times until Bartley
came to help his brother. James
Bailey was thrown over a wall and
then the two brothers knocked down
the wall on top of him. James Bailey
fell silent and it was alleged that
Michael Coyne stood over the body
of James Bailey and said "My soul to
the devil, but if anyone tells what has
happened tonight I will have their
lives. Twenty-one years is a long
time, but I will remember it if any
person says anything about it. Let ye
say it was the wall fell on him."
FRATURED SKULL
The brothers Coyne were remanded
in custody to appear in court at the
Galway Assizes in March 1909. At
the trial the Crown representative Mr
Fethertonhaugh addressed the jury
informing them he did not believe that
it would be necessary for them to find
a verdict other than one of
manslaughter. Mr Fethertonhaugh
claimed he believed that the tragic
occurrence was the result of an over
indulgence of poteen and that the
parties had all been on the best of
terms.
Medical evidence was produced to the
court detailing how James Bailey met
his death. The evidence showed that
the deceased had sustained a fracture
of the skull and that a stone might
have caused the injuries by coming
in violent contact with his head.
PEACEMAKER
Mr Price who appeared for Michael
Coyne said the awful whisky that they
made in Connemara was the cause of
the whole affair. They all appeared
to be drunk at the time of the
occurrence and counsel suggested that
that way really happened was that in
the wrestling match the men fell and
Bailey got hurt.
Mr McDermott who appeared on
behalf of Bartley stated that he had
acted as the peacemaker throughout
the entire row. It was clearly and
unmistakably stated that they fell back
over the wall and that was how the
injuries were caused to the deceased.
The jury after twenty minutes
deliberation returned with a verdict of
acquittal in the case of Bartley Coyne
and a verdict of manslaughter in the
case of Michael Coyne.
The judge sentenced the prisoner to
five years’ penal servitude.
Page 36 Belfast Magazine
In early 1861 a brutal and shocking
murder took place in Ballymote in
County Sligo. The bodies of three
people, a man and two women were
found with their throats cut.
Immediately suspicion fell on a local
man Matthew Phibbs and he was later
arrested and charged with the triple
murder of William Callaghan, his wife
and their servant.
At the inquest to ascertain the
circumstances of the crime evidence
was gathered from many local people.
Thomas Scanlan gave evidence that
Phibbs had come to him on the day of
the murders and asked him for money,
which he did not give him. Luke
Feehely and Owen Cawley stated that
they were working in the fields around
the Callaghan house when they saw
Phibbs coming out of small gap at the
back of the Callaghan garden. These
sightings were all on the morning of
the murder and by lunchtime Phibbs
was seen drinking in Mrs Mary
Flaherty’s house where he announced
that he was on his way to Sligo. Bt
one o’clock Phibbs was seen in
Ballymote with a cut face and part of
his right hand bandaged.
A short time later Phibbs was arrested
and Mounted Constable Patrick
Fogarty told the court of what
Mass Murder in Sligohappened next. Phibbs was arrested
at the door of Pat Conway’s, a
publican in Riverstown. He was taken
to the police barracks where he was
searched and a large sum of money
was found concealed in his clothing.
Over twelve pounds in cash and a
number of gold sovereigns were found
and three razors. One of the razors
was a Morrison razor and the heel of
it was red with blood and there was
blood inside the haft. A watch key, a
parcel of neck collars and a matchbox
covered in blood was also recovered.
Phibbs clothing was also covered in
blood but it would have been
impossible for the court to identify the
blood as belonging to any of the
deceased however the courts at the
time would have taken account of
circumstantial evidence.
Phibbs stood charged with murder and
robbery but the robbery charges were
dropped, as there was not enough
evidence to support the charge. The
Judge proceeded to charge the jury
and went through the evidence in great
detail. He carefully analysed the
entire evidence putting the
inconsistencies in the evidence of each
witness to the jury and he clearly and
forcibly expiated upon such portions
of the evidence, which were calculated
to show the guilt of the prisoner. After
Belfast Magazine Page 37
four hours of the summing up the jury
retired to return two and a half hours
later with a verdict of guilty. The
death sentence was then handed down
and the execution was affixed for
August 19th.
On this day Matthew Phibbs was led
out to hang for the murder of 80-year-
old William Callaghan, his wife Mary
and their servant Anne Jane Mooney.
It was the first public execution in
Sligo for 26 years and although people
were discouraged from attending
hundreds gathered outside the jail.
Phibbs was led out only to be returned
to jail, as there was some problem with
the arrangements. Finally he was led
out and within two minutes of his
hanging Phibbs was dead.
After his death the following
confession, dated 18th August 1861
was released by Sligo Jail:
Matthew Phibbs aged about 25 was
born in the town of Ballymote…I
must say I had honest parents, and
often did get good advice from them
when a youth to mind my Sunday
school and to go to church, the house
of God. That I did prefer going with
bad company elsewhere – perhaps into
a whisky house. Young lad or young
men….I do say to thee to take care
and beware of what brought Matthew
Phibbs to this, his untimely end…I
must bid you a farewell, heartily
forgiving all who have injured me and
asking forgiveness from all whom I
have injured. I do trust and hope,
though my sins have been very many
that my Saviour has washed them all
away and that I am going to That
happy land of pure delight, Where
saints immortal reign Infinite day
excludes the night, And pleasures
banish pain.
After my trial I have acknowledged
my guilt to the Rev Mr Shore and Mr
Garrett, but asked them not to make it
public until after I was executed. I
now admit the justice of my sentence
and go willingly to suffer what I
deserve looking to my Blessed
Saviour who suffered for me.
Again, young me, beware of what has
brought me to this, my untimely end.
Matthew Phibbs.
The body of Matthew Phibbs hung in
public for three quarters of hours
causing fainting amongst the police
and public who watched. His body
was then lowered into a coffin and
buried within the prison.
Matthew Phibbs was soon arrested and
charged with the horrific murders
Page 38 Belfast Magazine
Killer Doctor from CorkShandy Hall was situated between Macroom
and Cork in a town named Dripsey, and was
the home of 63 year old Dr Philip Henry
Eustace Cross, a retired British Army Officer.
Surgeon Major Cross was a gentleman of
means who had married a lady of what was
regarded in 1887 as a good social position.
She was Mary Laura Marriott, a lady from a
well-known English family and they were
married in 1869 at St James’ Church,
Piccadilly in London.
On June 2nd 1887 Mrs Mary Laura Cross was
found dead at her home in Shandy Hall.
Suspicions were aroused when on June 9th
1887, only 5 days after her burial, Dr Cross
left for England. At the time he claimed that
he was going to break the news to his two
sons at school there but it later transpired that
he met up with a young girl who at one time
was employed by him as a governess at
Shandy Hall. This girl was called Effie
Skinner and both she and Dr Cross continued
to London together where they were married
at St James’ Church, Piccadilly on 17th June
1887.
The body of Mrs Mary Laura Cross was
exhumed and strychnine and arsenic were
found in her remains. A murder enquiry had
begun.
Miss Effie Skinner came to work at Shandy
Hall in October 1886 and stayed there for
three months in the capacity of governess.
After that she went to Carlow to take up the
same position. She was next reported to have
been at the North Western Hotel in Dublin on
the 29th March with Dr Cross. Three weeks
later they were both booked into the same
hotel going by the name of Mr and Mrs
Osborne and on the 22nd April the intrigue
ended and Dr Cross returned home. At this
time Mrs Cross wasn’t suffering from any
illness but on April 29th an old friend of Mrs
Cross stayed at Shandy Hall and her diary was
used as evidence at the trial. The journal
showed how Mrs Cross suffered and
described the fatal symptoms of slow arsenic
poisoning. It was proved at the trail that Mrs
Cross used to vomit for hours at a time and
that the vomit was a yellowish green and there
was no nurse with her at any time during her
illness. When her body was exhumed there
was no solid food in her stomach.
On the night Mrs Cross died, Mary Buckley,
the kitchenmaid, was awakened from her
St James’s Church in London’s Piccadilly
Belfast Magazine Page 39
sleep, and for a few minutes she heard her
mistress’s screams. She had never heard her
scream before and Mary went off to sleep
again. Next morning at 6 o’clock, Dr Cross
went to the servants and told them that Mrs
Cross had died at 1.30 am. He had remained
for five hours alone with the deceased and
did not call on anyone after her death. The
doctor then proceeded to register her death,
and he himself filled out the death certificate,
stating that the cause of death was typhoid
fever and the number of days of her illness
was fourteen. She died at 1.30 am on June
2nd and was buried at 6.00 am June 4th. None
of her servants were at the funeral and a
kitchenmaid reported that on the morning of
the funeral she looked out the window and
saw only three persons present; Dr Cross, the
husband, Griffen, the publican and the driver
of the hearse.
Directly after the funeral Dr Cross left for
London to break the news to his two sons but
instead he went to renew his intimacy with
Miss Skinner. By the time they were married
on the 17th June she was already pregnant.
At first Dr Cross did not introduce her as his
new wife to Cork Society and it was noted
that on June 19th, two days after their
marriage, they were registered at the North
Western Hotel in Dublin under the name of
Mr and Mrs Onslow. Dr Cross was eventually
arrested and charged with the wilful murder
of his wife. He was brought to trial and found
guilty and sentenced to death.
Dr Philip Cross was hanged at Cork Gaol on
the Morning of Wednesday January 11th 1888
pleading his innocence and denying he
murdered his wife by administering poison
to her. It was reported that he ‘walked erect
without faltering’ to the gallows. When the
noose was adjusted around his neck he turned
to face the clergyman who was reading the
service for the dead. He said nothing to the
hangman, whom he classed as his social
inferior, and when the bolt was drawn at a
few minutes past eight, death appeared to be
instantaneous. At shortly after 8.00 am the
reporters were admitted and at 9.30 am the
inquest was opened. The inquest was
complicated by some technicalities and the
hangman was called to give evidence but he
had already returned to England. The inquest
was adjourned to enable his to return but he
refused.
The inquest on Dr Philip Henry Eustace Cross
therefore remains technically adjourned to this
day and he is therefore not officially dead –
yet.
Cork Gaol where Dr Cross was executed
£2.50ISSN 1470-0417
Murders, Ghosts and Bodysnatchers
The Darker Side of Belfast’s HistoryEvery Sunday the Glenravel Project conduct a fascinating tour which
explores the darker side of Belfast’s history. The city centre tour meets
at St Anne’s Cathedral and ends at Castle Junction where all the horrific
executions took place and where we will look at the gory details behind
a few of them. Before that we will tell a few of the ghost stories from that
area such as the tragedy which occurred in the Lucifer Match Factory
and Smithfield Mill before moving on to the old Victorian red light district
and exploring what life was really like there. We will look at the popular
bar room activity where bets were taken on killing rats with bare teeth
as well as some of the ‘dreadful’ crimes which saw some of the areas
residents being transported. There will be more murder stories as well
as the sad ghost story telling the fate of the Five Mary’s.
We will visit Academy Street where the lodgings of most of Belfast’s
bodysnatchers were situated. We will hear the tales of how they robbed
the local graveyards of corpses and why they tore the teeth from the
heads. We will then cross to the site of the infamous Hundon’s Entry
which was so notorious even the police refused to go in.
The total cost is £10 per person and will include
a booklet as well as a fascinating DVD looking
at the darker side of Belfast’s history. To secure
your place you can book online at
www.toursofbelfast.com or simply meet outside
St Anne's Cathedral any Sunday night at
6.30pm