After a period of great calmness in North Louth, we have been cast into further turmoil by a shocking happening, which occurred at midnight last Sunday at Ballybinaby, within a few hundred yards of the Co. Armagh border. It is known that in an attack on the troops a sergeant was killed, a private wounded and a young man, dressed in civilian dress, has paid the death penalty...

Inquiries by a Democrat reporter would go to show the military forces at Dundalk had received information regarding a dance, which was to be held that night in what is known as the `Old Camp' at Ballybinaby. They believed the dance was being used as a meeting-place for `wanted' people and they set out to make inquiries and, if necessary, effect arrests. From Dundalk, they proceeded on bicycles, leaving the barracks about 10.30 p.m. Twenty men formed this cycling column and they travelled together till they came to within a short distance of the Ballybinaby Cross. Here, they separated, one party going to the right and the other to the left, the intention being to re join at the Cross. This movement was carried out according to orders and when the parties had gone a little distance, when they observed a man running away. He was called upon to halt, failed to do so and was fired upon. Later, it had been learned that the man had been shot through the groin, the wound extending to his leg, tearing an artery and resulting in his death within five or seven minutes, He had been identified as Bernard Morris aged 23, a native of Crievekeeran, near Cullaville, Co. Armagh. He is unmarried and spent several years at sea.

When the tiring commenced, the party who had been in the haggard of the farmhouse opened fire on the troops. In the firing a Thompson machine-gun was used against the soldiers. One of the latter, Private McIlvenney, was wounded in the stomach. He was removed to Dublin and great hopes are entertained for his recovery. While the rifles were being discharged, a hand-grenade was flung at the soldiers. This missile struck a gate-post in its flight, hit Sergeant Daly on the head, blowing portion of his skull and right eye away and killing him instantly. The Sergeant was aged 22 and a native of Ballybay.

The dance-house was surrounded and the men there taken prisoner. A search of the haggard was made and in this two rifles and a hand-grenade were discovered. The man who had used the Thompson gun succeeded in making good his escape. On the body of Bernard Morris was found a bandolier with 10 rounds of .303 ammunition in it...