Looking Back: Protestant Clergyman attacked by Soldiers
Kilcullen, Tuesday. Last evening the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, Rector, Ballysax, Curragh, Co. Kildare, complained to the Constabulary at Kilcullen that he had just been made the object of a violent assault by two soldiers whom he met on the road at Castlemartin, about a mile from Kilcullen. According to the rev. gentleman’s statement, he had been riding his bicycle on the footpath and proceeding towards Kilcullen, when he met the two soldiers, one of whom appeared to be an officer’s servant, and dressed in civilian clothes, riding horses also on the footpath, and proceeding in the opposite direction.
The Rev Mr Wilkinson maintained his right to keep the footpath, but the horsemen claimed also claimed a similar right. The cyclist, however, refused to leave, with the result that the horsemen were obliged to do so, and the one in military uniform, apparently angered at being obliged to give way, dismounted, handed the reins to his companion, and proceeded to administer personal chastisement to the rev. gentleman. The Rev. Mr. Wilkinson took refuge in Castlemartin gatelodge, but the soldier followed and struck at him over the gate several times. He then went to a neighbouring house farther on towards Kilcullen, but the front door being closed, he got into the back yard, still followed by the soldier, who again violently assaulted him, and then remounting his horse, rode away with his companion towards Newbridge.
Mr. Wilkinson proceeded to Kilcullen, and lodged his complaint with the police, describing as best he could the appearance of his assailants. Exhaustive search was made for the two men, but up to a late hour last night without result. The police, however, observed the two men riding through Kilcullen earlier in the day and are in hopes of being able to identify them. The occurrence caused quite a sensation in the district.
— Freeman’s Journal, 01.12.1909.
(Credit to Dave Byrne for trawling through the old newspapers for reports about Kilcullen.)
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