Violation of Padraig Pearse's Home. Mrs. Pearse's words to the Free State soldiers

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VIOLATION OF PADRAIG PEARSE'S HOME. Mrs. Pearse's words to the Free State Soldiers. St. Enda's School, Rathfarnham, founded by Padraig Pearse, was raided by Free State soldiers on Wednesday night. The house was searched from top to bottom, and even the apartments occupied by Mrs. Pearse and her daughters were invaded. Mrs. Pearse reminded the soldiers that they were wearing the uniform of her two sons, Padraig and William Pearse, though they were behaving like Black-and-Tans, and they replied they were only carrying out their orders. The following statement was made by Mrs. Pearse subsequent to the raid :— At about 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12th, we discovered the house was surrounded by Free State Soldiers. I opened the door and said, "Well, men, what is it ?" They replied that they had come to search the house. I asked them if they were making a mistake, and if they knew where they were. They said "Yes." I then admitted them, saying, "Now, men, as some of you may not know where you are, I wish to tell you that you are standing in the home of Patrick Pearse, who with his brother and many others, gave his life in Easter Week that Ireland might be free, but not that she might be a "Free State."" I then realised what was happening. These men had come to raid my home on the order of Collins and Mulcahy, the two men for whose safety I had sacrificed a great deal—indeed, for whom on one memorable occasion, in Cullenswood House, I almost lost my life. These memories were too much for me. I completely broke down. I told the men what I thought of their traitor leaders, and of the misery and shame they had brought on Ireland since 6th December last, culminating in their never-to-be-forgiven conduct of the past fortnight. I then told them to do their duty. The first thing I showed them was the block on which Emmet was beheaded. After I had pointed it out to them I told them what Padraig said to one of his boys during the great week in the G.P.O.: "Whatever happens to us, the name of Dublin will be great for ever." "This week has wiped out the disgrace of Dublin's failure towards Emmett." "And now." I continued, "those men who pretended to fight for the same ideals have sent you here." I kept on talking in this strain during the whole time they remained. One of them in desperation said to one of our school boys: "For God's sake get Mrs. Pearse out of the hall." But I remained on, completely upsetting and unnerving them by my remarks. My daughter accompanied the officer on his search. In one room a soldier was seen to take a tiny religious picture—of no value—and put it in his pocket as a souvenir of St. Enda's. When they were coming in my daughter greeted them with the remark: "Come on, search away. We are used to the British, but this is our first time to be searched by Irish traitors." On their departure she told them that they had every appearance of being as much ashamed of themselves as we were of them. They saluted in Irish and departed.