APH
(High Court Application)
Source: Newspaper Report provided by Mr. Hanniffy, Rathgorgan, Athenry
Five more old I.R.A. men from County Galway, who were refused Military Service certificates which would entitle them to pensions, were applicants in the High Courts, Dublin, on Friday last, when Mr. Justice Haugh granted them conditional orders of certiorari directing the Minister for Defense to bring before the Court for the purpose of being quashed – unless the Minister can show cause – the reports of the Referee appointed under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, refusing to grant them certificates.
The applicants were Peter Dooley, Ballyrickard, Headford (formerly of Clooneen, Headford); William Higgins, Cashla, Athenry; Michael Gannon, Gurrane, Tuam; Michael Hanniffy, Tallyhoe, Athenry; and Martin Rogan, Ballygaddy Road, Tuam. Mr. T.J. Connolly (instructed by Mr. Vincent P. Shields, solicitor) appeared for all the applicants. Mr. Connolly read affidavits in which the applicants described their service in the Volunteers and Oglaigh na hEireann.
Attack on Barracks
Peter Dooley swore that he joined the Clooneen Company in October 1917, and served with it until 11th July, 1921. From October, 1918, to April, 1920, he acted as Captain of the company and, as such directed the training of men in arms for active service, arranged for the carrying out of police duties and the guarding of prisoners: planned and superintended the execution of raids for arms (thirty nine in all) and co-operated in general intelligence work. He was on armed outpost duty during the first attack on Castlehackett police barracks and was on active duty throughout the night on which it was subsequently burned.
From 1st April, 1920, to 11th July, 1921, while he was Adjutant to the Headford Battalion, his area was subjected to attacks by British Forces. These attacks, he stated, were among the most fierce carried out anywhere in Ireland and were aimed at breaking the morale of his unit which was under the command of, first, Louis Darcy, who was murdered by the British Forces, and, subsequently, of P. Glynn. He took part in the attack on Loughgeorge police barracks in May, 1920, party of military in the aid of the police, and he, with eight of his unit under the command of Louis Darcy, engaged them when they broke through a barricade. In January, 1921, his home in Clooneen, where he carried on a successful business as a carpenter, together with a large stock of prepared timber, was completely burned out by Crown Forces. During all this time he was on the run, the affidavit concluded.
Threatened with Death
For several weeks before the 1916 Rising his house at Cashla was the headquarters for Captain Monaghan who had been sent to help in the Rising in CountyGalway, stated William Higgins in his affidavit. He had been a member of the Volunteers from 1914. The Derrydonnell Company assembled at his house on Easter Sunday night. That night he helped to capture eight double barrelled guns. Under fire from the R.I.C. he cut telegraph communications at Rahard. From May, 1916, until August, 1916, he was in jail at Arbour Hill, Stafford and Frongoch. In September of that year he was severely beaten by the R.I.C. Having acted with his Company in the intervening years, in March 1920, he took part in the attack on Moyveela R.I.C. barracks, acting as guide to a party of engineers who were sent from Galway to assist in the attack. He also took part in the attack on Loughgeorge. He was at this time obliged to go on the run. On numerous occasions from January, 1920, onwards he was fired on by the Black and Tans. His house was raided frequently and on one occasion he was taken around the country on a lorry and threatened with death if he refused to give information. He did not take any part in the Civil War.
Raids for Arms
Michael Gannon stated that he joined the I.R.A. in April, 1918, and assisted in organising the Corteen Company. He took part in several raids for firearms. In October, 1920, he became attached to the Active Service Unit. He remained with this unit until 31st March, 1921, and during this period he was engaged in several operations, including an ambush at Gallaha-Tuam, in which there was a heavy exchange of fire and in which two members of the R.I.C. were killed, and an attack upon a lorry containing members of the R.I.C. at Sylane on the Tuam-Dunmore road during which two members of the R.I.C. were reported to have been wounded. Between April and July, 1921, he took part in an ambush of R.I.C. at Milltown, Tuam, in the course of which there was heavy firing and two members of the R.I.C. were killed. He did outpost duty during an ambush on the R.I.C. at Moylough. From July, 1922, to January 1923, he took part in an attack on Mountbellew Barracks and an ambush at Lissavalley, Tuam. In January 1923, he was captured by Free State troops and was imprisoned in Galway until August, 1923.
A member of the Volunteers from 1913, Michael Hanniffy stated that he mobilised for the 1916 Rising at Tallyhoe and on Easter Tuesday marched with his company to Athenry Agricultural Station. He was under fire while acting as one of a party engaged in protecting the men detailed to destroy the railway lines. On Thursday he was sent to attack Tallyhoe Barracks. The attack was successful and they captured a considerable quantity of equipment and provisions. He was interred for a month in Perth. He took part in the attack on Bookeen Barracks in 1919. A year later he was severely beaten by the Black and Tans. He was on active service with his Company until 11th July, 1921.
Martin Rogan stated that he joined the Castleconnor Company, which was a town as “A” Company, 5th Battalion, North Mayo Brigade, in March, 1917. Having carried out all orders in the meantime, he was appointed Intelligence Officer during the period April, 1919, to March, 1921. Largely as a result of his information a Coastguard station was captured with arms and equipment, and during the course of the raid he was stationed on outpost duty on the ?-Enniscrone road. He was also in charge of arrangements for safeguarding men on the run and arranging for their transfer from one district to another. Arrested in April, 1921, he was imprisoned until the General Release in December. He returned back to his Battalion and was appointed Battalion Intelligence Officer. From 30th June to April, 1923 he continued this duty and also acted as Intelligence Officer in the Brigade Staff. He was arrested and detained for five weeks during this period.
