Washington Street - April 12 1921

At 10 o'clock on the morning of April 12th 1921 William Kenefic was standing at the corner of Anne Street and Washington Street. He was a 49 year old married man from Morris's Lane on the city's northside and worked as a cabman for Lynch & Sons which was based on Hanover Street. 

Today: Anne Street/Washington Street. 

Today: Morris Lane, which ran between Blarney Street (next to the Post Office) and Boyces Street. 

Unfortunately for Mr Kenefic he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just as he stepped out from Anne Street making his way across the road to his place of work on Hanover Street, two lorries of British Soldiers drove by and an explosion occurred. 

                      The junction of Anne Street, on the left, and Washington Street.




A grenade was hurled at the passing lorries by an IRA Volunteer on foot. The grenade did not land in any of the lorries, instead it bounced off them and exploded on the footpath injuring five people. One of them was Mr Kenefic who sustained severe shrapnel wounds to his chest. 

Modern day Anne Street/Washington Street. 

The wounded civilian was taken to the nearby Mercy Hospital but, he died a day later. Mr Kenefic's widow and five children were later compensated £500.