February Document of the Month, 2022
Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920
On 21st November 1920 a Gaelic football match, attended by around 5,000 spectators, was held between Tipperary and Dublin at Croke Park, Jones’ Road, Dublin City. The event became one of the most violent episodes of the War of Independence with 14 people being killed and around eighty injured by British forces who raided the game and fired shots on the crowd and causing panic and chaos.
The Department of Finance, Compensation (Personal Injuries) Committee files consists of applications for compensation from people who claimed to have been injured at Croke Park, or representatives acting on their behalf or of those killed on Bloody Sunday. These claims were made to the Personal Injuries Committee of the Compensation (Ireland) Commission under the presidency of, initially, Lord Shaw of Dunfermline, and subsequently, Sir Alexander Wood-Renton. These files contain first-hand accounts by the claimants and include medical and personal data.
Claim by Annie Burke, 293 Farranbolly Cottages, Windy Arbour, Dundrum, County Dublin, on behalf of James Burke her husband who died on Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920 at Croke Park. James Burke tried to escape the gunfire by climbing a wall. Another person climbing the wall was shot and died, and this caused Burke to suffer a heart attack, he fell from the wall and was trampled by the stampeding crowd trying to escape and died. He was found dead in the north-eastern corner of the ground by Sergeant Timothy Maher.
Annie was awarded a lump sum of £400 and a monthly allowance of £2 per month for in respect of their three youngest children Valentine, Annie and Brigid, until they reached the age of 16 or died. The file includes information regarding loans of a value of £260 advanced to Annie Burke Sr by the Irish White Cross, which was deducted from the £400 award. Includes request by James Burke Jr that the £2 payments be made to him after the death of his mother, Annie Burke Sr, who died 31 July 1926. Includes later requests from James Jr’s siblings, Patrick Burke and Mary Burke that the payments be made to them respectively.
Claim by Bridget Robinson regarding her son William Robinson, aged 11, who died on 22 November 1920 at Drumcondra Hospital, Whitworth Road, Dublin, having been shot through the lungs on Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920, at Croke Park while sitting on a wall. Patrick Robinson and Bridget Robinson, his father and mother are named as his representative at various points. Includes order forbidding any demonstration or procession in connection with the removal or burial of William Robinson, 24 November 1920. Includes representation to the Department of Finance by Alfie Byrne TD on behalf of Bridget Robinson. William’s parents were awarded £50.
Claim by Margaret Hogan in respect to the death of her brother, Thomas Hogan. Thomas sustained a bullet wound in the shoulder on Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920, at Croke Park. This required that his arm be amputated and he died on 26 November 1920 at the Mater [Misericordiae] Hospital, Dublin. Margaret was awarded £40.
A claim by James McHenry on behalf of his son Jeremiah. The claim states that on Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920, at Croke Park, Jeremiah was ‘held up and bayoneted’ by Crown Forces, leaving Jeremiah partially incapacitated. James McHenry’s application was rejected.
