In the popular memory of the War of independence in county Meath there were few events which caused such outrage as an event towards the end of September 1920 which became known as ‘The Sack of Trim’.

The Evening Echo newspaper described the carnage which the military inflicted on the town. Following an attack on Head Constable White who was badly wounded, military lorries entered Trim on Sunday afternoon. Some shots were fired a men as they played hurling and two were wounded. Local priests intervened and sought the officers in charge. When the military were assured that all the inhabitants of the town would be indoors by 8pm the military withdrew. Then at 3am more than 200 soldiers returned, many it was stated were ‘imported’ to cause damage. The mineral water factory of the chairman of Trim Urban Council was broken into and the military shouted for the ‘Sinn Fein’ chairman. They then set fire to the building and a drapery shop where goods valued at £8,000 were damaged. They then set a public house on fire, which belonged to the mother of a member of the urban council. The town hall was also set on fire, and destroyed, which also contained the town records. In total sixteen houses were burned. After two hours the raiders left and threatened to return the following evening. As the Echo correspondent wrote in the hours that followed the War of Independence had visited Trim and it had received its ‘baptism of blood and fire’.  

Source: Evening Echo 1896-current, 28.09.1920, page 2

  EveningEcho_28sep1920_page2