From the archives: Dawn poteen raid on Mayo island by 16 gardaí

By Tom Gillespie

ON Thursday, July 7, 1939, the six families on that well-known spot where poteen is supposed to be turned out in the best form - Glass Island on Lough Conn - had an unpleasant surprise when their rest was disturbed by a visit from a large body of Guards.

According to The Connaught Telegraph of Saturday, July 15, of that year, the arms of the law, who were under Chief Supt. O’Halloran, Castlebar, made a sudden swoop on the island, and after a search of many hours came away with a good deal of the real liquid and a great amount of equipment.

The newspaper reported as follows:

They made such a clean-up, in fact, that there is not much hope of the industry ever being revived at that famous spot.

The Guards came from Ballina and Castlebar, about 16 in all, and having brought boats from Ballina, they stole onto the island in the early hours of the morning.

The crossing was a bit rough, but the boys didn’t mind so long as the task was a pleasant one - which it was.

They expected to make a haul - and they did. But the wheels of industry were not working that night. All the islanders were in their beds, and, of course, they were aroused and the houses searched.

As far as we know none of them were connected with all the material that was found, but there is a likelihood of prosecutions following the raid.

For about six hours the Guards roamed around the island, and at the end of their search they were able to place on board the boats dozens of articles of all kind. Most of them were removed to Castlebar barracks, where they are stored away - probably to be produced as evidence at a later date.

In the crossing back from the island the Guards had to keep an eye on their own lives.

It was a rough passage, and at times it looked as if some of the valuable evidence collected on the island might have to be dumped in order to make the going easier.

But the boatmen carried and struggled on, and at last safety was reached.

We expect to hear the story continued on another day - likely before a District Justice.

The following Guards were with the Chief: Sergts. Cahill, Hanafin and Lynch, Guards Morgan, O’Shea, Small, McDaniels, Cawley, Sheehan, Doherty, Rice and Kirwin.

PROSECUTIONS

Three months later the matter appeared before Foxford Court when Mrs. Kate Madden, Glass Island, was prosecuted for being in possession of, as alleged, a cooler for the manufacture of poteen.

The defendant was further charged that she kept or concealed a pint of poteen, and that she permitted poteen making to be carried out in or near a field, her property.

Supt. Somers prosecuted, and Mr. M.J. O’Hara, solicitor, defended.

Sergt. Hanafin, Castlebar, told the court that he was a member of the party of gardaí who carried out a raid for poteen on Glass Island. Amongst others places a visit was made to the home of the defendant by witness and Guard O’Shea, and while there the latter found a large earthenware jar which he showed to witness. The receptacle was found in a hole and was covered with a bag. The jar contained a quantity of poteen.

At this stage a large bottle, nearly full of poteen, was produced by witness who placed it on the Justice’s bench.

Witness, continuing, said the defendant’s land adjoined the place where the poteen was found. He described the surrounding; there was grassland in the vicinity which was used for grazing. The defendant’s son could not account for the presence of the jar in that place.

“I asked him,” said the witness, “would he give any reason why the jar should be found there, and if he had any malicious neighbours who might have placed it, but he said he had not, and was unable to account for the find.

“I pointed out the remains of a fireplace about 21 yards from the place where the jar was found, and Madden said he had not seen it before.

“We interviewed the defendant later and she denied all knowledge of the jar and seemed to be doubtful as to what was in it. She said the smell was not too strong.”

Cross-examined by Mr. O’Hara, witness said this visit to the island took place on Friday, July 7 (1939). About 16 gardaí took part in the dawn raid, principally from Castlebar and Ballina, and they got over to the island by boat.

Mr. O’Hara: It resembled the transportation of the British troops to France, I suppose, and the Chief Supt. acted as Admiral of the Fleet? (Laughter).

You were under the impression that the island was a veritable poteen still. Are you still under that impression? - I am.

Were you quite satisfied with your capture? - We were.

Witness proceeded to give details of other finds, including four other jars, a still head, a bag of malt, and a number of bottles - in respect of which there were no prosecutions.

Mr. O’Hara: The only evidence that you have in court today is one pint of poteen, one jar and the remains of a barrel, and you were so satisfied with your discovery that you gave it great publicity in the daily papers?

Witness: I know nothing about that.

I suggest you would have got more poteen around Castlebar? - I don’t know.

The witness said if he found the barrel outside the courthouse or the barracks he would not regard it as part of poteen making apparatus, but his opinion was quite the reverse when he found it on Glass Island.

Defendant admitted the barrel was hers and she said it was a long time since poteen was made in it - about two years.

Mrs. Madden, the defendant, said she had nothing to do with poteen making for the past five years.

Thomas Madden, defendant’s son, said the barrel could not hold water because the staves were uneven.

The Justice said there was a doubt, and the defendant was entitled to the benefit of the doubt. He dismissed the charges.