Diamond War Memorial Project

Johnnie Doherty was a former member of St Columb's Guilds and the Owen Roe O'Neill Drum and Fife Band, and at a general meeting of the band, held around the end of June, or beginning of July, 1915, a vote of condolence was passed to Mr John Doherty, Ann Street, in the bereavement caused by the death of his son, Private William John Doherty. At the time twenty-two members of the band were serving with the colours.

William John Doherty's brother, Bernard Doherty, an ex-soldier, was shot in Orchard Street on Sunday, May 16, 1920, and died within half-an-hour of receiving the wound in the chest. It appears that Doherty, who was accompanied by a friend, went up to Orchard Street during a lull in riotous firing that same night. Suddenly shots rang out again, and Doherty was struck in the chest. He turned and ran down the street, and, staggering along New Market Street, fell at Linenhall Street steps. People passing ran to Doherty's assistance, and carried him down the steps to the house of William Simms. A priest was sent for, and quickly the Reverend L. Hegarty arrived and administered last rites. Meantime the city ambulance came with Dr N. Craig, and almost immediately Dr J. N. McLaughlin was on the scene. After an examination of Doherty the medical man declared that there was no hope of his recovery. About ten minutes after the departure of Father Hegarty Doherty expired. Afterwards the body was removed in the ambulance to the residence of a relative, it being decided not to acquaint his mother of the tragedy, owing to the delicate state of her health. Bernard Doherty was gassed and wounded during the Great War. He was only twenty-one years of age.

On Tuesday, 18th May, in the County Courthouse, an inquest was held by Mr J. P. Thompson, J.P., deputy-coroner, concerning the death of Bernard Doherty.

Head Constable O'Donohue represented the Crown, and Mr James O'Doherty (for Mr Hugh C. O'Doherty, junior), appeared for the next of kin of the deceased.

The following were sworn on the jury:- Messrs. Neill Crossan, Patrick Bryson, James Smyth, Thomas Hamilton, William Bonner, James W. Foster, James Boyle, David Doherty, William Mason, Bernard Canning, Samuel Robb, John Lowther, Bernard Brown, Matthew Chambers, Patrick Murray, Joseph McKernan, James Carlin, John Gallagher, James Moore, Peter Hutton.

The first witness was John Doherty, Ann Street, father of the deceased, who gave evidence of identification. He last saw his son alive after tea, about seven o'clock, on Sunday evening. At that time he left the house to go for a walk. He was in good health.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? When you next saw him what state was he in?

Witness ? He was dead.

The Deputy-Coroner ? What hour was that?

Witness ? About ten minutes past twelve. I got word that my son was wounded in the arm or leg, and I went to the Infirmary. He was not there, and hearing that a man answering his description was lying wounded in Linenhall Street, and had been attended by a priest, I went to the Parochial House, where I saw the servant who told me a young man named Doherty had been attended by Father Hegarty and a doctor in a house in Linenhall Street. I went to Linenhall Street, and on my way there met a man, who told me the boy was dead. At Linenhall Street I found him lying dead in the house of William Simms, to whom I am most thankful for everything he did.

Witness added that he had his son conveyed to a neighbour's house, as he was afraid to remove him to his own residence. The deceased's mother was ill and had been under the care of Doctor Craig for a couple of months, and witness feared the effect of the shock of her son's death.

Patrick Starrs, 4, Moore Street, stated that on Sunday evening he went with deceased for a walk. About 10.30 when they were at Moore Street, he told witness he was going to see a lady friend home. They went as far as the Diamond, and stood speaking to two men, who said there was rioting in Carlisle Road.

Deputy-Coroner ? Where did you go then?

Witness ? We went along Ferryquay Street to the head of Linenhall Street, where I met a young man named Donohue. Doherty went on down towards Ferryquay Gate. In about five minutes Donohue and I parted. He went by the Diamond. I remained standing with a little lad who was there. Just at that time two women came up Linenhall Street and said, 'There is a young fellow lying down there wounded.' I was speaking to a boy at the time, who said he wondered how he could get to Foyle Road. I said it would not be safe to go through Carlisle Road. It was at that time the girls came up, and the little boy and I ran down. We found a boy and girl standing over the man, who was lying on his side. I asked 'Who is that?' and when he heard my voice he said, 'Paddy, I'm shot.' We then carried him into the house of William Simms, in Linenhall Street. We opened his shirt, and found there was a bullet wound just below the heart. I with a little lad went for Doctor McLaughlin, and two girls went for the priest. We also sent two girls to tell the father.

Head-Constable O'Donohue ? At the time you and Donohue were speaking at the head of Linenhall Street, Doherty walked towards the Gate?

Witness ? Yes.

Head-Constable O'Donohue ? Was he expecting you to follow? Yes. About five or six minutes afterwards I heard that a man had been shot.

Were there any people in Ferryquay Gate at the time? Yes, and there was a great deal of shooting there. There were six or seven people standing at the foot of Pump Street.

Did any shots come from them? No.

Mr O'Doherty ? How far was he down Ferryquay Street when you lost sight of him?

Witness ? He was passing Irvine's. I said to him, 'Barney, don't go far down there.' He was dallying along.

The Coroner ? Was he apparently waiting for you? He was going slowly.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? Did you go as far as Ferryquay Gate at anytime that night? No.

Could you in five minutes walk from where he left you round by Newmarket Street to the place where he was found?

Witness ? In about two minutes.

From the time he left you until you found him at the head of the steps did you hear any shots? Yes, there was a lot of shooting.

Mr Boyle ? Did you hear any shots inside the Gate? Yes. When I was speaking to Donohue he said to me 'Those don't seem like real shots; they are like blank.' There were some strong shots then, and he said 'I would not like to be in front of them.'

Did you see a crowd inside the Gate? Yes, and heard them, too.

Mr O'Doherty ? Were the street lamps lit?

Witness ? The lamp at the foot of Artillery Street was out.

Mr O'Doherty ? How far did the crowd extend up Ferryquay Street? I am not sure, but the shouts seemed to come from between the Gate and Market Street.

You saw people moving about the Gate? Yes, I saw and heard them.

You heard a number of shots? Yes, and saw the flashes.

In your opinion where were the men who fired the shots? The flashes seemed to be at the foot of Artillery Street.

In what direction do you think the shots were fired? They seemed as if they were fired towards Market Street. There were none, I think, fired up Ferryquay Street.

Mr O'Doherty ? In what part of Linenhall Street did you find the deceased? Just at the top of the steps leading into Lower Linenhall Street.

The Coroner ? I think this man has given very straight evidence.

Mr McKernan ? Do you think you would know any of the crowd congregated at Artillery Street? No, I would not.

Were the flashes coming from Ferryquay Gate? Yes.

Were they not likely to have come from the top of Ferryquay Gate? They did not seem to be so high as that.

You are surprised that Doherty could have got so far before you heard he was shot ? is it not likely that he might have run for his life to avoid the revolver shots that were coming like hailstones from heaven? Yes, that is what I think.

Were there any police or military there at the time? No.

The Coroner ? I think the police were withdrawn from that part at the time?

Mr McKernan ? It is regrettable.

John Deeny, 25, Lower Linenhall Street, said a few minutes after eleven o'clock on Sunday night he was standing at the head of the steps above his house. He saw a young man running around the corner of Newmarket Street. He fell on his knees, and, scrambling up, ran in the direction of witness. I, said witness, was standing with my wife talking to two men when he fell at our feet. We lifted him up, and asked him what was wrong with him. He said, 'I'm shot,' and began rubbing his chest.

Did he say who shot him? ? No. We carried him into Simms' house, and I went and telephoned for the ambulance.

Did he say where he was when the shot was fired? ? No.

Mr Doherty ? Was it down Orchard Street or Market Street he came? ? Down Market Street, inside the Wall.

Mr O'Doherty ? Did you hear the firing that night? ? Yes.

The Coroner ? We all heard it.

Mr McKernan ? I heard it yesterday morning at seven o'clock. (To witness) ? What kind of shots were they? ? There were all kinds of shots.

Were they military shots? ? I could not say. I am not a judge.

Mr McKernan ? It is very easy knowing the difference.

Was there anybody on the street? ? It was a danger to be on the street. Two policemen passed down before this. They had to clear, too.

Mr O'Doherty ? There must have been quite a number in some street.

The Coroner ? There were evidently too many.

William Simms, 10, Lower Linenhall Street, said he heard a woman calling out that a man was shot. With his sister-in-law he went out and up the steps and assisted to bring the injured man into his house, where he died some time after the priest came. Death occurred at midnight.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? Did you hear any shots that night? ? There were a great many. I heard them distinctly.

Mr O'Doherty ? Was young Doherty conscious to the end? ? He was.

Did he make any statement? ? No, except preparing himself for death.

The Coroner said Mr Simms had shown the greatest kindness, and the relatives of the deceased were very grateful to him.

Mr O'Doherty, after remarking that they were deeply grateful, asked witness what was the first time he heard a shot that night.

Witness ? It was about ten o'clock.

The Coroner ? There is no denying there was any amount of shooting that night.

Mr O'Doherty said he should like some evidence as to the disposition of the police force that night. He understood they had been withdrawn from that part of the city from a quarter to ten until midnight, leaving the place unprotected.

The Coroner ? I understand it is quite true that the police were not there at all. I am sure they will be able to give you the evidence you require.

Mr O'Doherty ? This is a serious affair, a life having been lost, and it is only in justice to the citizens and the police themselves that there should be some explanation as to why they were not there to afford protection to peaceable citizens.

The Coroner said it was only right that they should go into every detail in a case of that kind. This was an unfortunate thing that crept into Derry, where the people wanted to live in peace and harmony. The loss of life was shocking, and the damage to property was dreadful, the value of which estimated at £5,000.

Head Constable O'Donohue, in reply to Mr O'Doherty, said he did not think that any policemen had been posted at Ferryquay Gate that night at any time.

Mr O'Doherty ? Do not the usual police beat go out about six o'clock every evening, Sunday included? Yes.

There is usually a police beat at Ferryquay Gate? Usually, but not latterly.

Were there any police there that evening? Not in the form of a beat. There were no uniformed police.

Were there any police in the vicinity? Not nearer than Shipquay Street.

From Shipquay Street to Carlisle Bridge there were no police? I think possibly you are right at the time this occurred. The place was under observation by other policemen not in uniform.

When did the police first go there that night? I do not think they went there at all.

Did any news reach the barracks that there was a disturbance between Fountain Street and Bridge Street that night? I am satisfied there was no disturbance of any consequence until about a quarter of an hour previous to the shooting of this man. There was no trouble before half past ten that would necessitate the bringing of police there specially.

At what time did information reach the barracks that the disturbances were of a serious nature? Some time about eleven o'clock.

In spite of the fact that serious disturbances had taken place there the previous night no precautions were taken to put a body of men between these two streets? No, but we were prepared to do so if necessary. We did not see the necessity. Having regard to the tragic occurrences of the previous night, and considering it was Sunday, we thought the trouble was more or less at an end. I sent two plain clothes men to a magistrate in Fountain Street, who gave us every assistance. He cleared the whole street of any element of trouble there. They reported to me that everything was quiet, and that they got a guarantee that nothing would occur.

Mr O'Doherty ? It was not thought necessary to take elaborate precautions that night, notwithstanding that life had been lost the previous night?

Head Constable O'Donohue ? We had every reason to believe that this would not have occurred. Everything went to show that we were going to have a peaceful Sunday. Influences were at work on both sides to get things right. But for the shooting of this man Sunday night would have passed in a normal way. There was some shooting but it was more or less bravado.

Were reports conveyed to you that there was heavy shooting, or what might be termed sniping that night? No, the first time we got information of the shooting of Doherty was between half past twelve and one o'clock.

You say that you had the place under the observation of plain-clothes men; did they not know that poor Doherty was shot? No, and no friend of Doherty's gave us the slightest information that he had been injured.

The Coroner ? No person seems to have known that he was shot until he fell in Linenhall Street. There is something of a mystery about it.

Mr Doherty said the place had been left in an unprotected state.

The Coroner ? Sometimes we are told that too many police only cause trouble.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? If we go in a body to any spot we are followed by a crowd, and that is likely to lead to trouble. I have to divide my men in little sections, and send them by different ways to a certain point. It is a most extraordinary state of affairs.

Mr McKernan said he saw four policemen at Ferryquay Gate before eight o'clock that night. A man then told him that a crowd was gathering, and that there was going to be a disturbance.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? These four policemen were on beat duty in Shipquay Street, and occasionally went as far as Ferryquay Gate for the purpose of keeping us informed of what was going on.

Mr McKernan ? Why are the police kept in the quiet localities, having been withdrawn from these danger spots, where men are in danger of going about and women also.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? It is time this thing is coming home to gentlemen like you. Neither you nor any of your friends?

Mr McKernan ? I have no friends but myself.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? Neither you nor any of your friends make the slightest protest until some of your own people get hurt. When we get hurt, when a policeman gets killed, there is not a word of protest from you.

Doctor J.N. McLaughlin said he received a phone message after eleven o'clock on Sunday night informing him that a young man was shot and seriously ill at Linenhall Street. He proceeded immediately, and on arrival found that the man was in a very weak state, almost on the point of death. It was impossible to have him removed to the Infirmary, and nothing could be done. Father Hegarty arrived before he died. Witness added in conjunction with Dr Craig he made a post-mortem examination of the body.

Replying to Head Constable O'Donohue, he said the bullet that killed Doherty would be used in an ordinary full sized revolver.

Mr Crossan ? Would it be a service bullet?

Dr McLaughlin ? It is the same size as a service bullet, but I don't know about the shape of it. It looks a little too round in the nose.

Head Constable O'Donohue ? It is common lead.

Mr O'Doherty ? Was the shot fired at close quarters?

Dr McLaughlin ? No, it was fired at some distance. The man was hit from the front, the bullet going back through the body.

Mr O'Doherty ? Have you any idea of the distance at which it was fired?

Dr McLaughlin ? I could not form any opinion. It must have been fired out of a heavy revolver at moderately close range, and was travelling at full velocity.

Mr O'Doherty, addressing the jury, said the deceased young man had come to Carlisle Road with the object of seeing a girl home, and went casually down in the direction of Ferryquay Gate. There was a crowd in that quarter. Who they were was not known, but they were there rioting and firing revolver shots. He wished to impress upon the jury that these men were armed with deadly weapons, and any man who fired a shot that night was morally, if not actually, guilty of murder. If a man pointed a revolver at another and fired, whether he missed or not, he was a murderer in his heart if not in deed. In this case someone had actually been a murderer. Who it was they did not know, but it was a fact that the shot had been fired to kill someone, and the man who fired it had his victim in front of him. Those who took part in the disturbances, no matter to what side they belonged, were all hooligans of the worst type, out with deadly weapons to kill, and he asked the jury to say that that unfortunate boy, the son of a very decent man, had been murdered ? foully murdered ? on the street.

Head Constable O'Donohue said he was personally very sorry that such suffering should have been caused to the deceased's relatives. He had known the deceased's father for fifteen years, and was always pleased to meet him, as he was a very respectable genial man. It was sad that such a deplorable crime should happen in the city. The police might yet find the guilty one. They had not let the matter drop, and he hoped someone would come forward and give evidence to convict the culprit of the crime. (Hear, hear.)

The Coroner said the evidence was given very straightforwardly by the witnesses, who did not try to colour it in any way. There was a tremendous amount of rowdyism, hooliganism, and blackguardism indulged in for the last few nights in the city. He had expressed his views on the matter fairly plainly at the inquest on a gallant officer of the constabulary on the previous day. If respectable citizens of all creeds and classes would take the matter in hand and make up their minds to stop such conduct it would be stopped. If the authorities could not stamp it out the citizens could.

Mr McKernan ? I quite agree, and it is high time they started.

The Coroner ? It will have to be done, because we are not going to allow our city to be dragged in the mire or to be put on a level with other cities in Ireland. We think too much of ourselves as citizens for that. I hope we have seen the end of this rowdyism. I was glad to see that there was a great improvement last night, and I hope the authorities will hold a tight hand tonight also.

The jury returned the following verdict ? We find that Bernard Doherty was wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown by a bullet from a revolver, resulting in shock and internal haemorrhage.

Mr Crossan, on behalf of the jury, expressed deep sympathy with the parents of the deceased. He was sure the father, a hard-working upright man, and the mother and sisters had the sympathy of the citizens. The only other boy was killed in the war.

The Coroner ? This boy was in the war, too.

Mr Crossan said he was. Referring to the statement made by the Coroner, he said the jury desired him to suggest that steps should be taken by the citizens to put a stop to this trouble. He did not know what form the effort should take, but it was the opinion of most gentlemen with whom he had discussed the question that firearms and ammunition in the city wherever stored should be seized, and that people carrying these deadly weapons should be deprived of them altogether. He did not know why irresponsible people were allowed to have such weapons at all.

Mr Smith, Bishop Street, a Unionist, associated himself with the expressions of sympathy. Deceased's family were very decent respectable people. He regarded the boy's father as a personal friend, a man of most exemplary life, of whom he could not speak too highly. Mr Doherty had lost a son in the Dardanelles, and now the only other one was gone in this unfortunate way. He agreed that every effort should be made to stop this rioting. He knew the position of the authorities. It was very difficult and trying, but still something must be done to put a stop to the use of firearms in the city. On the previous night there was an incessant fusillade of shots near Bishop's Gate. No one, so far as was known, was injured, but people obliged to go out, and even those in their own houses were not now safe.

Mr McKernan said though the head constable had put him in the hooligan class?

Head Constable O'Donohue ? Oh! Indeed I did not.

Mr McKernan said he had been put in the same class as the rowdies, but he deplored any interference with the police. He had never approved of it. The Unionist party and Nationalist party in the city should formulate some scheme to maintain law and order, and assist the authorities.

The Coroner ? Your party is now in power.

Mr McKernan ? We must have the cooperation of all parties.

Mr Boyle said they should organise citizen volunteers.

The Coroner ? The people should join hands and pull together to put down this rowdyism and blackguardism.

Mr Boyle ? The authorities admit they are powerless.

The Coroner ? I don't blame the authorities.

Mr Boyle ? When the authorities say they cannot govern Ireland why do they not hand it over to the people, who will preserve order themselves.

The Coroner ? I think we will not discuss that. There are too many firearms used.

Mr Boyle ? The right people have not the arms.

Mr Doherty thanked the jury for the expression of sympathy.

On Wednesday, May 19, 1920, the day following the inquest, the funeral of Bernard Doherty took place, from the residence of his father. The funeral cortege was of very large dimensions, and along the route to the cemetery the streets were lined with sympathisers. The ex-soldiers, the dock-labourers, and other workers marched in four deep; and the two thousand who took part in the procession made an imposing display. The coffin containing the remains was carried to the cemetery by relays of ex-soldiers. A pathetic scene was witnessed before the start of the funeral procession, the deceased mother, who was ill, being assisted to the door by women to witness the departure of the cortege. She was weeping bitterly, as indeed were hundreds of other women and girls in the vicinity. Some Nationalist members of the Corporation attended the funeral, including Alderman P. Meenan, and the priests present were ? Reverend L. Hegarty, who attended deceased on the night he was shot; Reverend G. Faulkner, C.C., and Dr J.N. McLaughlin.