My melancholy duty is to move a motion which I feel certain will meet with the approval of all the Seanad. It is a motion with which I am glad to say all Ireland is in absolute sympathy and it has reference to a sad occurrence which took place at Cobh. The motion is:—
"That Seanad Eireann at this its first meeting held since the occurrence, endorses the statement and action of the President regarding the brutal and cowardly crime committed at Cobh on last Friday, resulting in the death of one and the serious wounding and maiming of several other British soldiers and some civilians.
"That Seanad Eireann tenders its sincere sympathy to the relatives and comrades of Private Aspinal, the wounded and their relatives and comrades, and sincerely trusts the murderers will soon be brought to justice."
I do not think, Sir, I am required to say very much more on the matter. I do not suppose that in the annals of crime there has ever been a more cowardly or a more repulsive crime committed in any country, and it is sad to think that we, as Irishmen, have had to admit that it occurred in our own land. I sincerely trust that the assassins will be brought to justice. It may appear strange that they have not already been caught, but one must remember that there are practically no military posts between Cork and Co. Waterford on the coast line now, except a small one at Youghal, and these men had a motor car with a machine gun on it, and it will possibly take some time to hunt them down.