#OnThisDay 1922 RIC & Ulster ‘Specials’ murdered 6 Catholics in Belfast. They smashed ex-sailor Joe Walsh’s head in with a sledgehammer & shot dead his 7 year old son (both in pic). His 2 year old daughter & 14 year old son were also hit but also survived.
Others who were killed included :
- William Spallen aged 70, he had just returned from his wife’s funeral. His wife had been murdered a few days earlier. According to Mr. Spallen’s 12 year old grandson, who was with him at the time, the killers stole the £20 he had on him to pay for her funeral.
- Bernard McKenna aged 42 killed in his home, he was the father of 7 children.
- John Mallon aged 60
- John McRory shot in the kitchen of his house.
Wounded in the same incident were:
- Brigid Walsh, aged 2 years old,
- Michael Walsh, aged 7 years,
- Frank Walsh, aged 14 years
- Kathleen Austin, aged 18 years