On a warm August evening 33 year old Abina Murphy was walking down Gerald Griffin Street( formally Clarence Street) with her friend Kathleen Deasy. Abina came from St Marys Road in Blackpool, while Kathleen was a Spangle Hill girl. The two ladies were shirtmakers and were making their way home.
St Marys Rd, Blackpool.
Suddenly a burst of gunfire erupted on the street. A group of lads fired at Free State soldiers standing by a wall. The Free Staters returned fire on what were presumed Republicans and Kathleen and Abina were caught in the cross fire.
Today's Gerald Griffin Street on the city's north side
A bullet pierced through Kathleen's neck while a bullet lodged in Abinas abdomen. Even though she had suffered a horrific wound Abina was able to stumble to the door of a woman she knew, Mrs Coughlan, at No.25 Gerald Griffin Street. When Mrs Coughlan answered the frantic knocking on the door she opened it and Abina exclaimed ''Oh Mrs Coughlan I have been shot!'' She then collapsed in the doorway.
No.25 Gerald Griffin St, on the left, where Abina collapsed.
Kathleen survived her awful injury but her friend Abina would succumb to death a day later at the north infirmary hospital. She was buried in St Joesphs Cemetery where the large funeral procession included a contingent from the Cork branch of the Irish Union of Distributive Workers & Clerks, which Abina was a member of.
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