The Times
London, Middlesex, England

February 14, 1837

FATAL AFFRAY IN THE COUNTY OF CAVAN.

The county of Cavan has become the scene of fierce political and sectarian excitement, and for some months past there have been frequent conflicts between the Protestant and Roman Catholic peasantry, especially in the neighbourhood of Ballyjamesduff. It would appear that an affray of a very serious nature took place in the neighbourhood of that town on the night of the 4th inst. Although a week has elapsed since this melancholy occurrence, the only account which has yet reached town is one published in the Dublin Post of this evening, in the shape of letters from correspondents, whose statements certainly seem to be ex parte, inasmuch as one party are described as the deliberate aggressors without a particle of provocation from the other. I subjoin the material portion of the statements and allegations in the Evening Post, leaving oiut the commentary :- "A fair was held in Ballyjamesduff on the 4th inst., and it passed over without the slightest sign of any breach of the peace. The night came on, and on one of the principle leading roads a large number of Orangemen lined the road, and, without any provocation, did not allow a single Catholic, without distinction of age or sex, to pass by whom they did not brutally assault. Four have been pronounced by the medical attendants as beyond the hope of recovery. Their names are John Carr, skull fractured: Michael Lynch, aged about 70: Thomas(?) Harte, and Patrick Murray. Others, to the number of 60, are so maimed and injured, that a long time must elapse before they can attend to their ordinary duties.

"There has been an investigation held by Mr. Little(?) (stipendiary) and other magistrates, which ended in sending nine of the Orangemen to gaol, and warrants are issued against many others." In a postscript it is stated that Carr is dead. An application was made to the magistrates to admit the accused to bail, but they declined doing so. These are all the particulars given. As to the real cause, and the circumstances attending the affray, we must wait for further accounts. Ballyjamesduff is not more than 44 miles from Dublin.

The Scotsman
Edinburgh, Scotland

February 18, 1837

Orange Massacre in Cavan - from the Dublin Evening Post of the 11th inst. we learn, that at a fair held at Ballyjamesduff on the 4th inst., the Catholics present were assailed by a large number of Orangemen, who lined one of the leading roads, and without any provocation, did not allow a single Catholic, without distinction of age or sex, to pass by whom they did not brutally assault. Four have been pronounced by the medical attendants as beyond the hope of recovery. One poor fellow, named John CARR, died on the 10th, his skull having been dreadfully fractured. Others, to the number of 50, were so maimed and injured, that a long time must elapse before they can attend to their ordinary duties. An investigation was held by Mr LITTLE and other magistrates, which ended in sending nine of the Orangemen to jail, and warrants were issued against many others. The Dublin Evening Post of the 16th, contains the following farther information:- "We have received, but too late for publication this evening, some particulars of the inquest, held by one of the coroners, of the county of Cavan on the bodies of the men, murdered by the Orangemen, near Ballyjamesduff. We can only state that the jurors were all Protestant - and some of the most rigid, too, in the town of Cavan - it not being deemed expedient to select a jury from the vicinity of Ballyjamesduff. After a patient investigation, they returned a verdict of wilful murder against the Orangemen engaged in this atrocious massacre."

Submitted by: County Cavan Newspaper Transcription Project