April 1920 started with the largest scale IRA activity to date in the War of Independence with the systematic targeting of abandoned RIC barracks and other buildings. It was a month during which the issue of Irish independence would be brought to an international audience, while it continued to be time of terror in Ireland. The RIC remained the open target of the IRA, but on a number of occasions in April the RIC would claim victory. Elsewhere, land-related issues continued to flare as anarchy set in across the country.

Rioting in Derry worst in half a century -17.April.1920

Simmering tensions throughout the month of April 1920 in Derry city boiled over on the night of the 17-18^th and resulted in a night of riot in the city. Several events conspired to precipitate rioting on the weekend of 17-18 April. There was widespread anger when it was learned that a Derry man lay dangerously ill in Mountjoy jail as part of the hunger strike. Then on 14 April skirmishes between nationalists and unionists broke out in the city when Republican prisoners were arriving back in the city and an attempt was made by the military to disperse the gathering. What followed was reported as some of the worst rioting for more than half a century. Then on Saturday evening, the 17^th, fierce rioting erupted in Derry after soldiers were attacked in various parts of the city. In retaliation, unionists and soldiers of the Dorset regiment engaged crowds of nationalists. Armed with iron bars and stones the rioters attacked soldiers as they left the Soldiers Club and who had come to help their besieged colleagues. They then retreated to the Soldiers Club which came under attack. All throughout the city, the rioting continued. When 200 soldiers of the Dorset Regiment arrived to put down the riot, the attention soon shifted to other areas including a RIC barrack which was located in a predominantly Catholic part of the city. In the end, thousands of pounds worth of damage was done to property, ten civilians were hospitalised and several of the military were also injured. Download Source: Belfast Newsletter 1738-1938, 19.04.1920, page 5 Belfast Newsletter 1738-1938, Monday, April 19, 1920