Punishment attacks by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, in retaliation for the murder of an officer, were carried out in Ireland in 1921, according to official papers released in London yesterday.
Papers released under the 75year rule revealed that an attack in Gorey, Co Wexford, led to the destruction of five houses. An RIC report card said this was "in punishment for various outrages in Gorey".
Some of the more mundane features of constabulary life included repairing the puncture on an elderly woman's bicycle in Killorglin, Co Kerry. An RIC report of June 8th, 1921, said a police cycle patrol called at the woman's cottage. After the visit, "rebels wrecked the woman's cottage and furniture and cut the tongue out of her donkey."