[Photo: "Woman outside cottage in Meelin, Co Cork after a Black and Tan reprisal" 7 Jan 1921 from the Hogan Wilson Collection at the NLI]
A TWO HOURS' FIGHT: 16 SEIN FEINERS REPORTED KILLED
Priest Shot in Attempt to Escape
Military headquarters in Dublin announce that two lorries containing soldiers and policemen were ambushed on Tuesday near Newmarket, Co. Cork.
Machine gun and rifle fire was opened on a large body of civilians, and after a fight lasting a considerable time the attackers made off with, it is believed heavy casualties. There were no military or police casualties.
The communiqué relates to an ambush near Kanturk, where, it is stated, sixteen Sinn Féiners were killed.
The fight lasted about two hours. The attacking party opened fire with a machine gun from the crest of a hill dominating the road from a distance of about 300 yards. The police and military took cover and vigorously replied.
Evidence of Casualties
On reinforcements appearing from Kanturk and Newmarket, the attackers retired. The soldiers pursued them up the hill, and on reaching the crest found evidence that some of the attacking party were wounded. The military then made six arrests the adjacent village of Meelin.
On the Kanturk detachment proceeding to the scene, they noticed some young men leaving a creamery. One of them who ran away was fired on by the soldiers and shot in the stomach. It stated that failed to halt when called upon. The wound believed to be serious but not dangerous. His companions were arrested.
The report that two soldiers were wounded during the ambush is officially contradicted.
Raid on Cork Hotel
Whilst the military were raiding the Imperial Hotel, Cork, yesterday and making arrests, a man, who registered at the hotel as Father D'Arcy, was shot dead as he was trying to escape.
Early yesterday morning a farm labourer named Cassidy was shot dead near Castlecomer, about 9 miles from Kilkenny, by two armed and masked men.
OFFICIAL REPRISALS FOR AMBUSH
The C.N. Dublin correspondent wires that five houses in Meelin, County Cork, were burned down yesterday afternoon by order of the Military Governor as reprisals for the ambush reported above.
