LET LOOSE IN GORT
Uniformed Ruffians
The Catholic Press 2nd December 1920 p.23
Extraordinary scenes of terror followed the arrival of armed uniformed men in Gort
on September 29.
Shortly after their arrival they began to hold up pedestrians. A motor car returning from Ennis was stopped, and Mr. Hargrove, one of the passengers, was ordered out, and sent at the double along the main street, followed by two of the uniformed men, who, it is alleged, fired revolver shots after him. At 4.30 p.m. Mr. Ruane’s house in George-street was visited, and Patrick Ruane was taken out and made divest himself of his clothing. He was then made run up and down the street while shots were being fired. Meanwhile, the furniture in the house was being smashed. Mr. Geo. Gibbs was taken from bed, and threatened that he would be shot if he did
not reveal the whereabouts of his son, Bernard, well known in G.A.A. circles. Here also the furniture was damaged, lamps were thrown through the windows, and pictures torn, while Brian O’Higgins’ ‘Fun of the Road’ was burned. It is also asserted that two watches and other articles were missing after the raid.
In Mr. J. Mack’s, Church-road, a similar scene followed, the occupier being put up against a wall and threatened. A new overcoat was missed from the house. Whiskey and wine, were, it is alleged, taken from Barry’s and Coen’s. In Church-street, the houses of Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Donnelly, and Mr. Corcoran were visited, and the furniture damaged.
Flower Vale House, the residence of Mr. M. V. Travers, ex-hunger-striker, was searched. Before the party left for Galway direction next day some people who identified their property in the lorry demanded its return, without avail. While John Hayes were working in a field the same day his coat sleeve wars punctured by
a bullet.
