The Killing of Bryan Fergus Molloy
Introduction from Chronology
British Army soldier, Brian Fergus Molloy (or Bryan Fergus Molloy), who
worked for Colonel S. S. Hill Dillion [or Dillon], a key Intelligence Officer
of the British Army (working out of the BA GHQ in Parkgate St) is shot dead at
the junction of South William St and Wicklow St in Dublin by members of the
Squad.
More Detail
Coogan details how Mulloy met Liam Tobin a
number of times, including in the Café Cairo on Grafton St. Mulloy’s cover
story was that worked as a pay clerk in the BA GHQ in Parkgate St but he was willing
to join British Army Intelligence and work as a spy for the IRA. However, he was rumbled. (Maybe because Lily Merlin worked as
Dillion’s secretary.)
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin say that Molloy was a Private but
Coogan says that Molloy was a Sergeant in the BA – as do Molyneux and Kelly.
According to Molyneux and Kelly, on March 24th, Mulloy was due to meet Tobin outside Noblett’s Sweet Shop
at the corner of Grafton St and South King St. in Dublin. Tobin deliberately did not turn up but waiting
nearby were various members of the Squad - Mick McDonnel, Vinny Byrne, Jim
Slattery, Tom Cullen and Joe Dolan.
(Nearby were members of the IRA Intelligence Department – Joe Guilfoyle
and Patrick Caldwell who had just been briefed by Tom Cullen.)
When Tobin did not turn up Molloy eventually walked down Grafton St
followed by the members of the Squad and the Intelligence men. Mulloy turned into
Wicklow St. with his killers catching up on him. Due to the crowds on the streets, they were
waiting for their opportunity for a ‘clean shot’. Mulloy was
initially shot by McDonnell (who was working with Slattery) and then finished
by Byrne and Keogh.
Molyneux and Kelly say that
Molloy’s real name was Frederick McNulty.