Local priest murdered by Auxiliary cadet near Dunmanway
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Dunmanway, 18 December 1920 - An Auxiliary cadet has been arrested for the murder of the popular Dunmanway parish priest, Canon Thomas Magner, 73, and Tadhg Crowley, a 24-year old farmer’s son. Both men were shot dead on the afternoon of 15 December.
According to an official report from Dublin Castle, Cadet Vernon Hart had been in charge of 30 Auxiliaries who left Dunmanway in two lorries and were en route to Cork where they planned to attend the funeral of one of their comrades who was recently killed in an ambush at Dillon’s Cross in Cork. Witness testimony suggests that Cadet Hart had been drinking heavily and that his judgement may have been impaired.