FINGLAS BUGLE: 3,509 Arrested After Violence at Armed Insurrection in Dublin
The Finglas Bugle ~ Finglas’ Paper of Record ~ Serving Deh Community for 35 Years
(Finglas Bugle, 30 April 1916)
By Holden McRoyne
The office of the Lord Lieutenant has called for an inquiry after violence broke out at an armed rebellion against Crown authority centred around the general post office in Sackville Street, Dublin this Easter Monday.
Around 1,200 armed Fenians gathered at several locations around Dublin on Monday morning and barricaded themselves inside buildings near army barracks around the city. Members of the royal Irish constabulary were killed or taken prisoner and the ringleaders of the insurrection read aloud a “proclamation” of the so-called Irish Republic, raising a seditious flag above the GPO.
The Lord Lieutenant Wimborne declared martial law on Tuesday evening, handing civil power over to Brigadier-General William Lowe.
Several regiments of the army, armed RIC men, the gunboat Helga, and several pieces of field artillery were deployed.
The rebels were put down after six days and calm was restored.
143 Crown forces were killed and a further 397 were wounded.
3,509 people were arrested for involvement in the insurrection or associated activities.
Rebels exchanged gunfire with the forces of the Crown on numerous occasions throughout Easter week. There were also sporadic instances of looting throughout Dublin’s centre over the course of the ‘uprising’.
Over 16,000 Crown troops had been deployed in the counter-insurgency operation by the end of the week.
Investigations are ongoing into the events of Easter week in the hope of bringing the perpetrators to justice before a firing squad.
‘Violence and thuggery’
Prime Minister H. H. Asquith "strongly condemned" the violent disorder and paid tribute to the courage of the Crown forces who restored order quickly.
Lord Lieutenant Wimborne said "there is no excuse for this type of violence and thuggery against the institutions that serve to protect us and victims of crime every day".
Home Secretary Herbert Samuel described the violence as unacceptable and "weaponising.. by people who wish to sow dissent in our society".
General Sir John Grenfell Maxwell said the armed forces of the Crown will always facilitate peaceful protest but described what happened in Dublin as "thuggery" and said there was a mob there who were intent on violence against the RIC and the Army.
He also commended Crown forces for their courage and said the process had now begun to bring those involved in the violence to justice.