Although Murtagh McAstocker is widely associated with east Belfast and St Matthew’s parish in Ballymacarrett, he was actually born in the famous Pound Loney area of the Falls road. His parents, Felix and Ellen McAstocker, had married in 1882 and set up home in Bathurst court off McMillan place. His father was originally from Toome in County Antrim and drove a cab for a living, while his mother hailed from the Longstone area of County Down. Their rural background was put to good use, however, as Felix and Ellen kept pigs and cattle to help support their ever-growing family. Murtagh had three brothers and five sisters and was the youngest son. The McAstocker family eventually moved to Ballymacarrett when Murtagh was a teenager.

The period July 1920 to June 1922 was one of the bloodiest times in the history of Belfast with 455 people killed and more than 2000 injured in sectarian attacks. In addition 23500 Catholics were driven from their homes and 9000 men (all catholic) were forced out of their jobs (Kenna, G.B., 1922).

The little parish of St Matthew's in the Short Strand is one of the oldest and most isolated Catholic communities in the city being virtually surrounded by the loyalist areas of east Belfast. Sectarian snipers, stone throwers and arsonists repeatedly targeted the chapel and more than 30 residents of St Matthew's parish were killed in the conflict of this time. It was little wonder the press described it as a most dangerous place to live.

It was against this backdrop of sectarian murder and mayhem that Murtagh, a quiet and unassuming young man, became actively involved in the defence of his area. He enlisted as a volunteer in the local battalion of the Irish Republican Army (IRA "B" Company, 2nd Belfast  Battalion) shortly after its formation in 1920.

The British establishment and unionist press of the time were keen to give the impression that the IRA was the real cause of the violence in Belfast. Others in an attempt at political correctness believed the IRA was as much to blame as the loyalist murder gangs. Neither view is substantiated by considered and objective historical analysis. The IRA was in no real position to take on the combined might of the state and militant loyalism. At this time the IRA was poorly equipped and its key role was identified as offering protection to the beleaguered nationalist districts of Belfast (McDermott, J., 2001).

The Belfast onslaught continued unabated despite the fact that a truce between the IRA and the British came into effect at noon on Monday July11th, 1921. The truce was designed to facilitate peace talks between the British Prime Minister, Lloyd George and a team of Irish delegates led by Eamon de Valera. The talks ended with de Valera, despite his rhetoric, returning to Ireland having gained no concessions on the issue of an Irish Republic. When the treaty talks reconvened later that year de Valera stayed at home and opted instead to send Michael Collins to London for the ensuing negotiations (Coogan, T.P., 1991)

Eamon de Valera (right) with Michael Collins (centre) and

Harry Boland (left) pictured together before the treaty of 1921.

The weekend had been particularly violent with numerous mob attacks and sniper fire on St Matthew's. It was around 6.30 PM when Murtagh left his home in Moira street in the company of his friend John Duggan. They visited the chapel and passed on to the Newtownards road where a loyalist crowd had gathered.

The crowd followed Murtagh and John pelting them with stones, bricks and raw potatoes. Just as they reached Cosgroves corner at Young's row, a man moved from the crowd and fired a revolver. The high velocity bullet hit Murtagh at close range and he fell to the ground saying "Oh, John I'm done". The bullet passed right through his body before striking coins in the breast pocket of his coat.

The Military were already at the scene so John left to get a priest and tell Mrs. McAstocker. He returned with Father Davey who administered the last rites to Murtagh. When the ambulance came to pick up Murtagh it was surrounded and attacked by a hostile orange mob, which cheered as his body was lifted. Murtagh was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Mater Infirmorum Hospital.

At mass the following day Canon Crolly said that Murtagh had been killed simply because of his religion.

The funeral took place to Milltown Cemetery on Tuesday 27^th September, and was attended by a concourse of about 10,000 people.

Despite the Military order, IRA volunteers were not prevented from assembling and placing a tricolour flag on the coffin. Volunteers, from his own company and the Markets "C" Company, at first marched four deep behind the hearse. The British Military then ordered that they should march two deep, and the order was complied with. In an attempt to intimidate and limit the size of the crowd, the Military used armoured cars to drive in a zig-zag manner through the ranks following the coffin. However, the volunteers regrouped and the route along the Falls road was lined with thousands of spectators.  

At the graveside, buglers sounded the “Last Post” while volunteers fired several volleys of shots over the coffin.

The Final Journey up the Falls Road

The inquest was presided over by Dr. James Graham, City Coroner.

The jury heard that Mary Anne McAstocker had formally identified her brothers body. She had also been the one to find the bullet in the breast pocket of Murtagh’s coat when it was brought home.

District-Inspector Spears of the constabulary authorities produced the bullet and testified that it was a .455 Webley, which would have been fired from a large-sized revolver. The bullet had flattened as a result of the impact with some coins in Murtagh’s pocket.

John Duggan then described the events leading up to the murder. He testified that a red-faced man in his early twenties had moved out from the loyalist crowd on the opposite side of the road. The man was less than 20 yards away and fired the fatal shot as he reached the crib of the footpath. The man who was described as being in shirt sleeves immediately disappeared into the crowd. John stated that he went to the Military who were present at the time and described the person responsible for firing the fatal shot.

In reply to the Coroner DI Spears said that a Webley bullet could carry 400 yards and kill. He also stated that it was certainly a case of deliberate murder and that a man had been arrested in connection with the shooting.

The jury foreman stated, " My opinion in regard to the death of that gentleman is that he fell at the hands of a murder gang of Orangemen. It is my firm opinion that they came deliberately and straightforwardly to murder Roman Catholics"

The coroner concluded that Murtagh “had died of shock and haemorrhage following a gunshot wound, willfully inflicted by some person unknown, and extended his sympathy to his relatives”.

Thomas Pentland of 14 Clonallen Street appeared before Mr. James Roche, R.M., in the Belfast Custody Court and was charged on remand with the murder of Murtagh McAstocker. Mr. John Graham defended.

This report detailed the membership and activities of an illegal loyalist paramilitary group known as the Ulster Protestant Association (UPA). Spears stated that the UPA came into existence in the autumn of 1920 enlisting “a large number of the lowest and least desirable of the Protestant hooligan element.” He went on to say that “The whole aim of the club was simply the extermination of Catholics by any and every means.”

The report cites the UPA as being responsible for the murders, shootings and bombings on the protestant side. Funds for the club were obtained at the point of a gun from publicans, shopkeepers, the managers of picture houses and householders alike. The club had approximately 150 members and met each Thursday night in the top room of Hastings Public House at Scotch Row on the Newtownards Road.

The report of DI Spears was ordered closed to the public until 1999.

It is now located in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.( Document Reference T2258)

The Memorial Window in St Matthew’s dedicated to Murtagh McAstocker

by

Willie Fitzpatrick

Since the very sad news of the death of Murty McAstocker was made known to the residents of the locality a deep sorrow has manifested all over the Longstone. The people can hardly believe that Murty, who had grown from childhood amongst them, is now sleeping in Milltown Cemetery after being struck down by a bullet fired by an Orange gunman.

The grievous tidings came as a great shock to the Longstone youth, Murty’s old school friends. The younger boys have good cause to remember him and grieve, for he was a loving, affectionate and loyal companion. He was highly favoured by all the former Moneydarragh School boys, and was held in high regard by the people of Moneydarragh and the surrounding district.

The name and splendid qualities of Murty McAstocker will endure while the Longstone remains standing.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

Ballymacarrett Research Group., Lagan Enclave

Coogan, T.P., Michael Collins

Kenna, G.B., The Belfast Pogroms 1920-22

McDermott, J., Northern Divisions

Yeates, W.B., The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeates

Ellen McAstocker, a niece of Murtagh

Felix McAstocker, a nephew of Murtagh

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