The Dripsey
Ambush
Introduction from the Chronology
Outside Dripsey, Co Cork, (at Godfrey's Cross on the road to Coachford),
the 6th (Donoughmore) Battalion flying column of the Cork No. 1 Brigade IRA,
are lying in ambush for an Auxiliary convoy when they are, in turn, ambushed by
Crown Forces (from 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment). Ten
men are captured, six of whom are badly wounded. One of the wounded subsequently dies and
five of the remaining prisoners are executed by the British on February 28th.
More
Detail
There
were 68 men in the IRA ambush party with at least another seven as scouts and
road blockers (24 had shotguns and most of the rest were armed with
rifles). The column was led by Frank Busteed (V/C 6th
Battalion) and the Battalion O/C Jackie O'Leary was also present. (The
column has been in a training camp for the previous two weeks at
Kilcullen). The Auxiliary convoy was expected in mid-morning but the
column was in place since early morning.
The
column had moved two families who lived near the ambush out of their
houses. One of these families was headed by Jack Sweeney who worked for
Tim Sheehan, Baker and Grocer in Coachford. Sweeney was allowed to go to
work where he told his employer about the planned ambush.
Mary
Lindsay from Leemount House, outside Coachford entered Sheehan's about
11.30am. She was on her way to Ballincollig for a newly introduced
military inspection of her car. (This was a measure that the British
introduced in an effort to cut down on the IRA commandeering of
cars.) Lindsay, originally
from Co. Mayo, held strong pro-British views. When she told Sheehan that
she was going to Ballincollig, he advised her not to go through Dripsey and
Inishcarra. She inquired as to why and he told her of the planned ambush.
She proceeded by the lower road to Ballincollig where she informed the BA about
the ambush.
On
her way to inform the British, Lindsay met Father Ned Shinnick (an RC priest
who held anti-IRA views) and told him about the ambush. He went to the
I/O of the local IRA company and told him to tell the IRA ambushers that the
British had been informed of their position. On receiving this news from
the I/O, the IRA leaders at the ambush site discussed this news but decided that
it was a ruse by Fr Shinnick to get them to abandon their ambush.
Seventy
men of 'C' Company of the Manchester Regiment, led by Lt Col Gareth Evans
(along with Lieutenants Sykes, Orgill, Todd and Vining) surrounded the
ambushers and captured ten men as follows Jim Barrett, Patrick O'Mahony (O'Mahoney
according to O'Callaghan), Timothy McCarthy, Thomas O'Brien, Denis Murphy,
Jeremiah O'Callaghan, Daniel O'Callaghan, John Lyons, Eugene Langtry and Denis
Sheehan. The last two had nothing to do with the ambush. The first six were
wounded, with Barrett and Murphy being badly wounded. Two other IRA men
(Timothy O'Riordan and William Lucey) were also wounded but managed to
escape. The prisoners are brought to Dripsey Cross then onto Ballincollig
Barracks - they are not ill-treated after capture.
Their
trial starts on February 4th – see Feb-04-21/4. (Townshend says that two IRA men were
killed at the ambush site but this would seem to be incorrect.)
After
the ambush, the IRA kidnap Mary Lindsay and her chauffeur – see Feb-17-21/1.
Five of the captured men were
executed on February 28th.
Memorial at Dripsey:
