There was a reign of terror in the region during 1798. Belmont barracks was described as �a centre of cruelty.� When suspects were arrested, the usual method of torture was to be tied to a wheel and scourged. A nearby laneway is still known as Whipping Lane.

The military barracks was sold in 1820, and became known as Belmont House, Forkhill, - the residence of Rev James Campbell, Rector of Forkhill. In 1891 it was sold to the Catholic church, Fr John Markey paying �300 for the building and adjoining farm. In 1987 it was disposed of, and the first of three families moved.

Forced to leave Co Armagh, when caught in the act of stealing a horse, to which he had attached a false tail, he later worked as a servant to a minister of a dissenting church. And so diligent and reliable was young O�Hanlon, that he was appointed Clerk of the Congregation!

Returning to the Orchard County, Redmond became a successful tax-collector. A venture into farming failed and he fell into debt. But fortune smiled when he found a wife, who had a substantial dowry. But this was soon spent, as were the collected taxes, and he was threatened with imprisonment.

He turned to crime when his wife died, using the knowledge gained as a revenue official. Captured and taken to Armagh Jail, he escaped and resolved to dedicate himself to being an outlaw. Gathering a trusted band, and using the Slieve Gullion region as a base, he launched a systematic spate of robberies throughout the counties of Armagh, Down and Monaghan.

Redmond O�Hanlon evaded many attempts to capture him, and became a defender of the people, who would pay him regular dues. His fame was so widespread that one leading French newspaper referred to him as �Count Hanlyn.�

In 1674, the Government issued a Proclamation, calling for the outlaw�s capture or surrender. A price was put on his head, - dead or alive. Over the next few years, he became the most formidable adversary in Ireland and Britain. The landlords of Armagh, Down and Monaghan organised a force of 30 men to scour the countryside and hunt him down. Relentlessly pursued, he was wounded and fled to Newry.

The Government described their foe as �a cunning, dangerous fellow, who still reigns, and keeps all in subjection. He raises more money in a year than the King�s taxes, and is enabled to bribe clerks and officials.� Magistrates from the three counties met at Hillsborough to organise a defence force, with a reward of �100.

Finally, O�Hanlon made overtures to the Government, through the Annesley family of Castlewellan, for a surrender on terms, expressing regret and promising to �secure all roads between Downpatrick and Co. Monaghan.� But the negotiations broke down when the Lord Lieutenant was over-ruled.

A plot was hatched between the authorities and Redmond O�Hanlon�s brother-in-law and bodyguard, Art O�Hanlon. It was sprung at a deserted cottage near Hilltown, where the gang were lying in wait for rich merchants, returning from Banbridge Fair. Redmond and Art O�Hanlon entered the house, in order to snatch a few hours� sleep, leaving William O�Shiel on sentry duty outside.

Art shot and fatally wounded his chief, and then fled. The dying man begged O�Shiel to cut off his head and bury it in a bog, so that his enemies would not put it on display. O�Shiel agreed to the request and escaped. Soldiers arrived and carried the corpse to Newry, where the trunk was exposed in a prominent place. The head was later discovered, and was placed on a spike over the main gate to Downpatrick Jail.

Meanwhile, the clan O�Hanlon from the Mullabawn area had a prominent role during the War of Independence and the Civil War, especially Mrs Sarah O�Hanlon. She was grandmother of Paddy O�Hanlon, one-time MP for South Armagh, and his brother, Gerry, formerly of the Workers Party, who has just returned from Cuba.

Author Toby Harnden reported that Mrs Sarah O�Hanlon had made an official complaint that the `B` Specials had �wrecked� her pub at Mullabawn in 1922. A police report stated that �Mrs O�Hanlon has seven sons, two of whom were arrested by Free State troops, a third, Patrick, (father of Paddy) lost a leg in a fight between Free State troops and Irregulars at Dungooley.

�Eldest daughter, Bessie, was suspected of carrying messages from Frank Aiken (later IRA chief-of-staff) to John McCoy, leader of the Irregulars in the locality. Mrs O�Hanlon�s pub has been a stopping off place for Frank Aiken. She and her family are bitter republicans,� stated the County Inspector.

Fifty years later, another generation of the O�Hanlon clan was playing a leading role, along with SDLP colleagues and the Irish government, in establishing a power-sharing executive at Stormont. What goes around, comes around!

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