Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, c. October 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington

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A letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington (1877-1946) to John Dillon (1851-1927) . Sheehy-Skeffington wonders if the report of the inquiry will be a 'white-washing' exercise but says that either way it is valuable 'for its strictures on Martial Law' but the real culprits, the military authorities in Dublin Castle will not be blamed. She reports that none of the property taken in raids on her home has been returned. She also outlines what appears to be harassment of her landlady, Mrs. Schmutz while Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington was away on holiday. Detectives had called on a number of occasions demanding information as to Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington's whereabouts and threatening the landlady with penalties. She also reports an incident with detectives which arose when her mother was being removed by ambulance. She asks Mr.Dillon to make representations on her behalf so that these activities can be curtailed and wants to know if the Government wishes her to report as an 'alien' (one of the detectives is based in the Aliens Department).Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, suffragette, nationalist, language teacher, was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington (who was summarily executed on 26 April 1916). She was active during the Rising, bringing food to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged. John Dillon was an Irish Party M.P. in the House of Commons. In a speech in the House on 11 May 1916 he strongly condemned the British handling of the Rising which had been put down “with so much blood and so much savagery”, and called for an immediate end to executions. Mr. Dillon assisted Mrs.Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington in her plea for a public inquiry and in various correspondence relating to the incident and raids on her home.

 Trinity College Dublin , MS6837/28/3 https://letters1916.ie/item/1505 English Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington 1916-10-21 43 Moyne Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland. John Dillon House of Commons, London, England; re-directed to 2 North Gt. Georges Street, Dublin, Ireland. Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Wrote 22 Oct 1916 43 Moyne Rd Ranelagh Dear Mr Dillon, I should be glad to know whether the question of the inquiry is likely to be the subject of comment in the House of Commons &, if so, what form the debate is likely to take? As was to be anticipated it seems to me largely a white- washing report, still such as it is, it is valuable for its pictures on martial law. It does not however fasten the blame on the real culprits, the military authorities in Dublin Castle. So far, although we have re peatedly inquired no further steps have been taken to return to me the property raided in my house. I had hoped that the inquiry would force them to disgorge at least my personal belongings or attempt to trace their where- abouts. Sir Francis Vane states categorically that when he interviewed Price after the murder to try to get Colthurst arrested he replied 'Some of us think anyhow that it was a good thing that Sheehy Skeffington was put out of the way.' That is significant. Another significant fact is that when I went away recently for a brief holiday, on doctor's advice leaving no address to have conversationsforwarded, the detectives besieged my landlady, worrying her with all kinds of questions & threatening her with serious penalties for not knowing my address, so that she was afraid her house would be raided & was timid about receiving me back. I should be obliged if you could ask a question or make some inquiry into the matter so that some check may be put on the activities of these gentlemen at the castle. For myself I do not mind how much they watch, but I do not wish my friends or landlady to be annoyed. Last week my mother was gravely ill & was being removed in an ambulance when detectives appeared & actually peered into her face as she was being removed apparently under the impression that it was I ! These things would be laughable & unbelievable in any other country but ours. The officer who made these inquiries is Sergeant McGahey who is in charge of the 'aliens' department & a constable Devine of the 'G' Division he also distinguished himself. If the government wishes me to report as an 'alien' enemy I should prefer to know definitely The grievance in this case seems to have been that I left no address but I have frequently done this when I did not wish to be worried with correspondence. My landlady states that in no other case has she had inquiries made when other lodgers went on holiday. I hope I am not worrying you unduly in this matter — trivial in themselves, but apparently part of a policy. I feel that you will help me if anyone can. Yours Sincerely Hanna Sheehy Skeffington John Dillon Esq M.P 2 North Gt. George St. House of Commons Dublin London Blank envelope 43 Moyne Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, c. October 1916. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 21 October 1916.Letter from the Secretary, Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police, to Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, 26 October 1916Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 28 October 1916. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 4 November 1917.Letter from Alice Schmutz, 28 October 1916. House of Commons, London, England; re-directed to 2 North Gt. Georges Street, Dublin, Ireland. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, c. October 1916. Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, c. October 1916. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 21 October 1916.Postcard from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 23 October 1916.Letter from the Secretary, Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police, to Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, 26 October 1916Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 4 November 1917.Letter from Hanna Sheehy Skeffington to Owen Sheehy Skeffington, 7 July 1916 John Dillon Letter from Philip J. McArdle to John Dillon, 21 May 1916.Letter from Henry Lemass, solicitor, to John Dillon, 23 May 1916.Letter from Henry Lemass, solicitor, to John Dillon, 16 June 1916.Letter from Francis Vane of Hutton to John Dillon M.P., 3 October 1916.Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, c. October 1916. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 21 October 1916.Postcard from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 23 October 1916.Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 28 October 1916. Letter from Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington to John Dillon, 4 November 1917.Cablegram from John Dillon to John P McGoorty, 20 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 19 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 29 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 29 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 30 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 30 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 2 July 1916