Exciting Events - Ruth Cannon, Barrister, Four Courts History

A Daring Escape from Green Street Courthouse, 1904

Ruth Cannon BL barrister Illustrated Police News Hale Escape from Green Street 1904 — *Hale’s battle with the police in Mount Street, as depicted in the Illustrated Police News, February 1904*

From the Dublin Daily Express, 6 February 1904:

“ESCAPE OF A PRISONER

STRANGE INCIDENT AT THE COMMISSION COURT

A good deal of sensation was caused in the Courthouse, Green Street, yesterday afternoon, when it became known that a prisoner named Samuel Hale, who had been put back for sentence in connection with the receiving of goods taken from a house in Wicklow street, had made good his escape from the cell in which he had been confined. The case in which Hale was involved had been heard read more

The Judge’s Son Who Shelled the Four Courts, 1922

28-30 June 2022 marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Four Courts, the central event of the Irish Civil War, which resulted in severe damage to the original Four Courts building. The image above (via Dublin City Digital Archive) shows the extent of this destruction, which precluded any resumption of legal business on the site until the 1930s.

The extent of involvement of British forces in the Battle of the Four Courts has often been speculated on. The following unattributed newspaper read more

The Time They Tried to Move the Four Courts to London, 1850

From the Freeman’s Journal, 17 July 1850

“HINTS FOR THE IRISH BENCH AND BAR

The Irish bench and bar are now upon their trial in a way more dangerous to them and to the national interests than at any previous time since the Union. Not a post leaves Ireland without communications from some of the correspondents of the London press, laying bare every accessible point of their position. If business be brisk it is pointed out with grudging envy, if it is slack a shout of exultation read more

Shouldering Guns Like Gentlemen: Irish Lawyers to the Front, 1914-18

From the Dublin Evening Telegraph, 1 May 1915:

“DEPARTURE FROM DUBLIN

Enthusiastic Send off

The departure of the 7^th Batt. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, known as the ‘Pals’ Battalion, was responsible for remarkable scenes of enthusiasm in Dublin.

Crowds lined the whole route, and the windows along the streets were filled with cheering spectators. Practically all classes of the community are represented in the Battalion, which had a large number of professional men, barristers, solicitors, read more

Flags and the Four Courts, 1885-1922

The Prince and Princess of Wales’ 1885 visit to Dublin, as depicted in the Graphic, 18 April 1885. Perhaps because of its dirty condition, there were no depictions of the Four Courts among the many illustrations of the visit.

From the Dublin Daily Express, 17 April 1885:

“Sirs – The soiled flags which were displayed on the Four Courts during the Prince’s visit, and were a disgrace to the noble building, ought, I should think, receive a thoroughly good washing before being replaced on the return of his Royal Highness.

A line or two in your influential paper calling the attention of the authorities to the matter, would, I have no doubt, have the desired effect – I am, sir, yours &c