In County Limerick, a dispute at Askeaton Abbey has resulted in arrests and injuries. The Local Government Board had prohibited interments at the Abbey, but friends of the late Patrick Sheehy pressed on to bury him alongside his ancestors. Five young men were prosecuted for assisting in the burial, fined 5 shillings each, and ordered to seven days’ imprisonment after refusing to pay. As the police escorted the prisoners to jail, a cheering crowd threw stones at them, injuring Sergeant Kennedy and prompting an additional arrest. This incident highlights the deep emotions around local burial customs and the disruptions that may arise when authorities attempt to intervene.
Northampton Mercury – Friday 05 July 1901
