SIR ROGER CASEMENT'S STAY IN CO. KERRY IN 1916

摘要

Early on Easter Saturday morning a direction was received from RIC HQ at Dublin Castle that Casement should be conveyed to Dublin under escort that morning. Kearney selected Sergeant James Butler - a very sound and reliable member of the Force - to perform the escort duty to Dublin, Sergeant Butler and two constables escorted Casement on foot through Tralee town to the local railway station. Casement was not handcuffed as he was escorted through the town. Sergeant Butler and Casement left on the 10.30am train for Dublin. Only Sergeant Butler travelled as escort on the train. [By any standards this was an extraordinary decision by Kearney to have only one member of the force escorting such a high profile prisoner to Dublin.] In addition to performing the escort duty he also carried three bags containing the firearms and other exhibits which had been found near the boat at Banna Beach as well as three overcoats located at McKenna's fort.They travelled in a private carriage and when the train stopped at Killarney, Casement asked Sergeant Butler to buy a newspaper for him which Butler did. At the train station the local Head Constable of the RIC came to the carriage door and said to Sergeant Butler, "Did you hear what happened to the lads at Puck?"When Sergeant Butler replied that he had not, the Head Constable said, "They ran in to the tide and were drowned."