Courts / Dublin / Report

In the shadow of the GPO: how a court hearing led to gunshots on O'Connell Street

Summary

In a spring afternoon on O'Connell Street, a confrontation erupted when Sinn Féin supporters, including Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Danny Morrison, tried to stop Garda detectives from arresting Evelyn Glenholmes, a young Belfast woman. A plain‑clothes detective fired three shots into the air, prompting shoppers to flee. Morrison calmly confronted the detective and ordered him to put the gun away. The Garda subsequently withdrew, and Glenholmes was arrested and taken to Bridewell. She appeared before a District Court judge who, after hearing that nine extradition warrants issued by Scotland Yard were defective, ordered her release. The incident, which began with a court appearance on March 2, 1986, escalated into a public melee on O'Connell Street, with shots fired and supporters and detectives clashing outside the court. The case highlighted tensions over extradition requests for IRA suspects and led to accusations of Dublin being "soft" on terrorism.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: In the shadow of the GPO: how a court hearing led to gunshots on O'Connell Street. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• March 2nd, 1986 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-02-05 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report