The inquest on the bodies of Mary Ellen Bailey and Driver Denis Donovan, 67th Field Battery, Royal Artillery, who were found in the river Blackwater three weeks ago was resumed and concluded today.

Fermoy Courthouse

The greatest excitement prevailed, as for some time past it has been believed that the deceased were murdered and the evidence today showed that this belief was fully justified.

District Inspector Ball represented the Constabulary authorities, and Captain Gubbins attended to watch the interests of the battery to which the deceased, Donovan belonged.

Police on Fermoy Bridge
Dr. Williams deposed to making an examination of the body of Donovan. There were two wounds on the head with great effusion of blood underneath, showing that great violence had been used. His face was badly battered and he was either dead or utterly insensible when thrown into the river. Death was caused by syncope resulting from concussion on the brain.

The girl Bailey had also been severely beaten and had been previously been outraged. She scarcely breathed after being flung into the river. Dr. Dilworth concurred with this evidence. In his opinion the wounds on Donovan's were probably caused by a kick from a spur on a boot, but might have been cased by a sharp stone or other instrument of a like nature. One person could not have inflicted Donovan's wounds.

Agnes Cooke deposed that on the night of the occurrence she met four Artillerymen on the bridge, who said, "Good night, Polly," when passing, and used words to the effect that they would "do" for him or it, that night

Thomas Shea deposed that at 11 o'clock on the night of July 1st. he heard a loud piercing scream from a female and a few minutes after, looking out of the window, he saw four artillery soldiers coming out from the direction from which the scream proceeded.

A number of military witnesses were examined, but nothing important was elicited. District Inspector Ball read a letter, which Donovan had written to his mother, in which he stated his life was a misery to him and appealing to her to get him out of the artillery regiment.

Coroner Rice, having summed up at length, the jury found a verdict that the deceased were on the night of July 1st. wilfully murdered at Fermoy by some person or persons unknown, and added a rider commending District Inspector Ball for the zeal and ability he displayed in prosecuting the inquiry and Captain Gubbins for the manner in which the Royal Artillery aided the investigation. They also expressed their dissatisfaction at the manner in which the majority of the military witnesses gave their evidence.

District Inspector Ball said the constabulary would continue to do their best in the matter. He wished that some of the thirty or forty persons who were up the river walking on the night in question would come forward and give the police information of what was within their knowledge.