FROM THE ARCHIVES:Thomas Ashe, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, died while being force-fed on hunger strike in September 1917. This is the report of the court martial three weeks earlier which sentenced him to two years' imprisonment. - JOE JOYCE
A DISTRICT court-martial was held yesterday at the Garrison office, Dublin Castle, on Thomas Ashe, formerly a national school teacher. The charge against him was in connection with the delivery of a seditious speech alleged to have been made at Ballinalea, Co Longford, on 25th July.
Constable Thomas Bowers said he was at a Sinn Féin meeting at Ballinalea, Co Longford, and the accused in the course of his speech told the crowd to form literary societies, also military societies, and to train, arm, and equip themselves. He also stated in his speech that if it had not been for the rebellion of Easter Week there would not have been such a fine crowd present, as there would be conscription, and they would all be fighting in Flanders.
Accused warned the meeting to have nothing to do with the Convention , and said that the Canadians had accepted Colonial Home Rule and were now fighting for England.
If the meeting accepted any form of Colonial Home Rule now when the next war came they would be fighting for England, and he also said that Mr T. P. O’Connor [Nationalist MP] had gone to America presumably to recruit his health, but really to try and get the Irish-Americans into the Convention. The Irish- Americans knew better, as they were only too glad to get a blow at England. Mr O’Connor had come back with his tail between his legs.
Cross-examined by the accused, witness said he took a mental note of the speech and afterwards wrote it out.
In cross-examination by the accused, witness said accused also said if he had seen England overpowered on the Western front he would have no hesitation in calling out his men as he did in Easter week. Witness did not remember in connection with that statement accused saying that if England was invaded in the event of defeat on the Western front he would call out his men to protect the country. The President - Why don’t you protect it now? Accused - That question did not arise. The President - You waited too long? Accused - I meant to protect Ireland not England.
The accused in a lengthy statement [said] the most choice item of their evidence was their statement with regard to Mr T.P. O’Connor. If he had not referred to Mr O’Connor at Ballinalea he would not be there standing his trial. He had made many statements in public, but had not been arrested until he criticised Mr O’Connor. He would not mind going to prison for a decent charge, but it was unfair to be sent to prison in order that Mr T. P. O’Connor might collect $40,000 in America.
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