The Bombing of Dublin's North Strand by Kevin C. Kearns

Author:Kevin C. Kearns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Bombing of Dublin’s North Strand, 1941
Publisher: Gill & Macmillan
Published: 2011-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

Neither newspaper would commit itself to a hard figure. The Irish Independent was similarly restrained, reporting that “it is feared that the death roll is high … and many people were buried in the wreckage.”4 The Evening Mail, whose reporters had more time during the day to probe, confirmed in its late afternoon edition that at least “eleven bodies were taken to the City Morgue.”5

Smyllie was clever. As the editor of Dublin’s most respected newspaper, he felt he had a special responsibility for accuracy. Other newspapers might put out differing estimates of the number of deaths; Smyllie chose to quote respected sources about their estimates. Dr J. C. Waugh had been on the bomb scene since about 2:25 a.m., in contact with all the rescue and medical services who carried out the dead and injured. His relationship with Irish Times reporters was good. In a “stop press” morning edition, Smyllie decided to print Waugh’s statement that “the death toll might be as high as thirty to forty.”6 In this, he had scooped his competitors—and played it safe at the same time, because it was acceptable for the doctor to be wrong.

Most newspapers printed conservative headlines, but ran articles with tantalising titles.

BURIED TO NECK IN DEBRIS

HUGE CRATER: HOUSES CRASH

RESCUERS FORM HUMAN CHAIN

FIRES FOLLOW BIG EXPLOSION

HEROIC RESCUE WORK

DARING ESCAPES SEEN

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