Aiken goes Anti-Treaty

Introduction from Chronology

Frank Aiken, Commandant 4th Northern Division, throws in his lot with the anti-Treaty side and his forces capture Dundalk barracks and prison. 

More Detail

Aiken is supported by the local brigade (commanded by Patrick McKenna) and over 300 men are said to be taken part in the capture of Dundalk. 

Four or five pro-Treaty soldiers including Captain Frank Byrne are killed and nine wounded.  One or two anti-Treaty soldiers (including Patrick McKenna) are killed and 30 wounded.  Some 200 to 300 anti-Treaty prisoners are released and the pro-Treaty garrison of some 350 men is captured.

(Hopkinson and Hall say that, even at this point, Aiken did not declare himself anti-Treaty and only did so in September.) 

A large column of released anti-Treaty volunteers from Kildare, under Jim Dunne, was making its way from Dundalk to Kildare when they were surrounded by pro-Treaty troops near Skreen, Co. Meath.  Dunne says that he ordered a rear guard of ten men to hold back the pro-Treaty troops while he and the rest of the column escaped and reached the Kill area of Co. Kildare. Dunne says that three pro-Treaty soldiers were killed and several wounded by the men of his rear guard.

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