Northern Star (newspaper of The Society of United Irishmen) - Suppression

Suppression

The extensive distribution network and potency of the Northern Star in spreading United Irish opinion alarmed the authorities and possession of a copy came to be regarded as an admission of seditious intent. The end finally came with the uncovering of supposed United Irish infiltration of the Monaghan militia in Belfast which resulted in the execution of four soldiers. General Lake, already engaged in a brutal counter-insurgency campaign (the "dragooning" of Ulster) was quick to put much of the blame on the Northern Star and requested permission to suppress the paper.

In the event official suppression was not necessary as on May 19, 1797, three days after the execution of their ex-comrades, a mob of Monaghan militiamen anxious to prove their loyalty attacked the offices of the Northern Star and destroyed not only the printing presses but the building itself. The attack resulted in the demise of the Northern Star to the undoubted satisfaction of the authorities as no action was taken against those involved in the destruction. The Chartist movement later paid tribute to the Northern Star by using the same name for their newspaper which was founded in 1837 by Feargus O'Connor.