Civilian William H. Kenefick

Civilian William H. Kenefick (aged about 49) of 5 Morrison’s Lane, off Blarney Street (Anne Street, Cork)

Date of incident: 12 April 1921

Sources: FJ, 14 April 1921; II, 14 April 1921; CE, 18 April, 16 June 1921; Military Inquests, WO 35/152/74 (TNA).

Note: At about 10 a.m. on 12 April 1921 there was an explosion in conjunction with an attack mounted by the IRA on a police lorry in Washington Street in Cork city. Five persons were wounded in the attack. Kenefick was badly injured from shrapnel in the explosion. He was admitted within less than an hour to the Mercy Hospital suffering from serious wounds to the chest and stomach and died there a day later.

Further details appeared when his wife Julia Kenefick sought compensation in June 1921 for her husband’s death: ‘He was a carman in the employment of Lynch and Sons, Hanover Street, and on Tuesday, the [12th] April, he with two comrades were standing at the corner of Anne Street at 10 o’clock in the morning. Two police lorries passed up Great George’s Street in the direction of the Western Road, and after the second lorry passed Anne Street, a bomb, apparently thrown at it, exploded. Deceased was hit by a portion of the bomb, and he died the following day.’ See CE, 16 June 1921.

Kenefick left behind his wife Julia and at least the five children (two daughters and three sons) in their household in 1911. His eldest child Kate (then aged 19) was a charwoman; the Keneficks clearly belonged to the working poor. His wife Julia and their sons were awarded compensation of £505. His daughters Catherine (Kate) and Anne were awarded £400 altogether.