Mass Arrest of Suspected Republicans by Crown Forces

Introduction from Chronology

A policy of the mass arrest of republicans is instituted by Dublin Castle on the night of 30^th/31^st with many raids on houses by Crown Forces.

The British captured 58 people including Robert Barton. Most were subsequently deported to England for internment. (The volume of the official BA Record of the Rebellion dealing with intelligence says that there were 60 arrests.)

More Detail

Despite attempts by Dublin Castle to play up the success of the raids, it soon became clear that they had netted few of the leaders of Sinn Féin or IRA and that the Irish side had clear forewarning of which houses were to be raided. Even Barton’s arrest was accidental. On February 2^nd, the Irish Independent reported “the result [of the raids] is that once more the prestige of the Government has had a fail … while everyone is speaking of the ability of the Sinn Féin intelligence staff”.

Subsequent to these raids, the British Army started to develop Military Intelligence Sections in all its formations in Ireland but these took time to bear fruit. Brigadier General (later Colonel) J.E.S. Bring took charge of intelligence in the BA GHQ in Dublin with Colonel S. Hill-Dillion as his assistant. BA intelligence officers, assigned to divisions, brigades and battalions were expected to recruit informers and liaise with the RIC. By far the most active BA Division was the 6^th (covering mostly Munster), its Divisional Intelligence Officer was Captain J. O’G Kelly. They spent £2032 in secret service funds in the year to April 1^st 1921 (compared to £320 by the 5^th Division and £14 by the 1^st Division).

Also, the British Army initiated its policy of raiding houses for arms, etc. However, due to the lack of good intelligence, the raids were frequently unfruitful and generated much hostility towards the British Army from the people affected.

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