Start of Civil War
Introduction from Chronology
The
pro-Treaty troops demand the surrender of the Four Courts for a second time
(this time they demand evacuation by 4.00am). As the men in the Four
Courts stay in position, at 4.15am pro-Treaty troops, under Emmet Dalton &
Tom Ennis, direct artillery fire against the Four Courts. (The artillery
was given to them by the British.)
The
Civil War in the south is underway.
More Detail
The pro-Treaty Army had
surrounded the Four Courts – even taking the Four Courts Hotel next door. They also blocked the main gate to the Four
Courts with an armoured car. They also took over the Bridewell behind the Four
Courts and critically St Michan’s Church. They set up a machine gun post in the steeple
of church which gave them a clear line of fire into the Four Courts.
Fire
opened up on the Four Courts at 4.07am.
The pro-Treaty army had two 18-pounder field guns (under Emmet Dalton)
situated at the bottom of Bridge St and Winetavern
St. They fired a shell every 15 minutes
(hoping for a surrender by a display of force) but they soon ran out of
high-explosive shells. (Also, a lot of
the shells missed their target). Dalton
had to go to Macready to plead for more (telling Macready that he was afraid that,
if he didn’t get more shells, his men would “clear off”). Macready refuses to supply Dalton with more high-explosive shells but gave him
a few more shrapnel shells (these are noisy but ineffective).
Macready contacted London who had
decided (see Jun-28-22/5) that the Provisional Government should be supported.
The next day, Macready gave the pro-Treaty forces two more 18-pounders (which
were then located at the end of Hammond Lane and the corner of Chancery Place
and Chancery Street) and hundreds more high-explosive shells.
A furious fire fight broke out
between attackers and defenders especially in the Church St area. One defender (Volunteer William Doyle) and,
at least, two attackers (Privates James George Walsh and Patrick McGarry) are
killed. A 14-year boy, Patrick Cosgrave,
is the first civilian killed. There were
to be at least seven more civilians killed on June 28th.
About
1,100 pro-Treaty troops are involved in the attack with about 180 anti-Treaty
men inside the Four Courts.
Also,
Frank Bolster was sent with a force to attack anti-Treaty posts on Parnell
Square – see Jun-28-22/9.