Following on yesterday blog about Breda O’Connell who died when struck by a car and whose headstone includes the words ‘Killed In Athlunkard St.’, I spent some time searching.
The internet revealed that Patrick Manifold of Anne Street, Limerick was in a motor accident on the way to Shannon Airport on 2nd June, just eight weeks earlier, but this was not mentioned in reports on the inquest. The Cork Examiner of 6 August reported on the case at Ennis District Court where Patrick Manifold of the same address was on trial for dangerous driving, where he was fined £3.
The internet revealed that Patrick Manifold of Anne Street, Limerick was in a motor accident on the way to Shannon Airport on 2nd June, just eight weeks earlier, but this was not mentioned in reports on the inquest. The Cork Examiner of 6 August reported on the case at Ennis District Court where Patrick Manifold of the same address was on trial for dangerous driving, where he was fined £3.
 |  |  |
The Limerick Leader of 12th October 1946 reported that Patrick Manifold was not guilty of the manslaughter charge in respect of the death of Breda O’Connell.
All of this goes to prove that if the purpose of a headstone is to make the reader stop awhile and think of the person named, it worked.
All of this goes to prove that if the purpose of a headstone is to make the reader stop awhile and think of the person named, it worked.
 |  |
 |  |
This year will see much commemoration of the centenary of the Burning of Cork. It appears that four people died as a consequence of the Dillons Cross Ambush and subsequent Burning of Cork – Auxillary Temporary Cadet Spencer Chapman died after the ambush as a result of his wounds; Con & Jerh Delaney were taken from their home in Dublin Hill and shot for their believed involvement in the ambush; and, Sarah Medalie who suffered a heart attack when the Black and Tans entered her home on Tuckey Street.
I have previously commented that I had difficulty with the use of the verb ‘kill’ with regard to the death of Sarah Medalie. She died of a heart attack. My mind had filed kill as requiring a positive action on someone’s behalf, an intentional (or negligent) act resulting in a death. I am now reconsidering my mental filing system.
Chambers dictionary defines ‘kill’ as ‘to cause the death of’'. On this basis, the wording on the headstone is correct. Both Sarah Medalie and Breda O’Connell were killed.
I have previously commented that I had difficulty with the use of the verb ‘kill’ with regard to the death of Sarah Medalie. She died of a heart attack. My mind had filed kill as requiring a positive action on someone’s behalf, an intentional (or negligent) act resulting in a death. I am now reconsidering my mental filing system.
Chambers dictionary defines ‘kill’ as ‘to cause the death of’'. On this basis, the wording on the headstone is correct. Both Sarah Medalie and Breda O’Connell were killed.
