‘The
Irregular’s taste for the finer things’
Examples of
two Dungarvan compensation court claims in 1923
Waterford News
11 November 1923
Thomas H Murphy of
the Park Hotel, Main Street, Dungarvan, claimed £56.0.3 for teas, drinks, stouts, etc. taken by the
Irregulars. Murphy stated that the
I.R.A. supplied meat to him which he had to cook for them. They took the drink by force. They also took a suit of clothes and a lady’s
trench coat. The state solicitor Mr.
Ryan was intrigued and remarked: ‘What do the ladies want trench coats
for? We have enough going into trench
coats without the ladies going into them’.
Murphy also said that the Irregulars took a quantity of underclothing
and left their own clothing behind. Mr.
Ryan cross-examined Murphy who admitted he did ‘fairly well with the British
military owing to his place being near the barracks. The I.R.A. paid for some drinks they got, but
they commandeered all the drinks they claimed for. On the first night three of the Irregulars
came in with a bomb and demanded three large stouts. He sent to the barracks when the bomb was
produced and the pin taken out, and the Irregular was removed. Murphy found the bomb on the premises next
morning and some ammunition’. The judge
awarded £20 in compensation.
R.A. Merry & Co
claimed £1.13.3 for
puddings, sausages and £84.16
for groceries, liquors, including six ‘quibs’ of champagne. Mr. Ryan, solicitor, commented: ‘There must
have been some fellows ‘craw-sick’ which produced much laughter in the
court. Merry’s felt they had to hand
over the goods as the men had revolvers. The judge
awarded £60.