Janos fled Hungary and Russian rule
January 1957
JANOS JARMODY, the 22- year-old Hungarian refugee living with the Connolly family of Shop Street, Drogheda, has now told the story of his flight to freedom.
Last week, it will be recalled, the “Drogheda Independent” carried a story on Janos and his two-year-old daughter, Catherina, now residing at Ardee with Mrs. J.McMahon.
Our story last week was tragic, telling of the murder of Janos’ wife, mother and father in the revolution, and of how Janos himself was wounded.
His wife was killed in street-fighting. There is nothing really dramatic about Janos’ escape. He travelled to the Austrian border, laid down his arms, returned to Budapest for his daughter and then caught a train for the return journey to the border.
There was little interference from the Russians—although one of Janos’ comrades was shot dead on the train near the border.
Janos has told friends in Drogheda that the Hungarians were forced to work four times harder under Russian rule than that to which they were accustomed. When they returned from work at night, they were utterly fatigued.
It was almost impossible for them to practice their Catholic Religion; they were too exhausted after their work, for which they got no extra wage. They just worked and slept and had no time whatever for recreation.
Janos, a qualified electrical engineer, has so far failed to secure a job In Drogheda. Meanwhile, he continues to make great progress in learning the English language, and is adapting himself well to our way of life.