Derry, Buncrana and Newtowncunningham
Introduction from Chronology
In the early morning, two major attacks are attempted by
anti-Treaty volunteers based in Donegal on Crown Forces across the border into
Derry and Tyrone.
In their aftermath, there are serious incidents in Buncrana and
Newtowncunningham which lead to the deaths of two civilians and four pro-Treaty
soldiers.
More Detail
One column of about 30 men anti-Treaty men, led by Sean Lehane,
attack a British military base on the outskirts of Derry City in the early morning
of May 6th. However, expected
support from Joseph Sweeney’s (pro-Treaty) forces does not materialise. Lehane’s forces come under heavy fire and are
forced to retreat to Burnfoot. (It is
thought that the British may have had been forewarned about the attack.) The column then moved off arriving in
Newtowncunningham around 6am.
Another column of anti-Treaty forces, led by Charlie Daly,
intended to attack Melenon House in Co. Tyrone which they thought was
garrisoned by Specials. However, when
they got there they found the house to be closed and shuttered so decided to
abandon the operation and return to Donegal.
They arrive in Newtowncunningham in the early afternoon.
Lehane orders five of his men to go to into Buncrana to rob the
Belfast Bank where they take about £800.
But they are confronted by pro-Treaty troops stationed in the town, led
by Joseph McLoughlin, and a firefight breaks out. Two civilians – a nine-year old girl called
Esther Fletcher and an 18-year old woman called Mary Ellen Kavanagh – are
killed due to being caught in the cross fire.
Three other civilians were wounded as are two of the anti-Treaty
volunteers.
McLoughlin goes to the headquarters of the pro-Treaty 1st
Northern in Stranorlar to report the fighting in Buncrana and it is decided to
send a large eight vehicle convoy to Buncrana under Tom Glennon. When this convoy was entering
Newtowncunningham (which is on the way to Buncrana) around 6pm it comes under
sustained fire from the anti-Treaty forces in the village. This fire results in the deaths of four
pro-Treaty soldiers and the wounding of five others. The four soldiers who died were John McGinley
from Ardsbeg; Eddie Gallagher from Burtonport; Daniel McGill from Ardara and Edward
Murray from Sion Mills.
Both sides gave contradictory accounts on who started the
shooting. The anti-Treaty side said the
Tom Glennon fired the first shot while the pro-Treaty side said that it was a
planned ambush. (The anti-Treaty side
said they thought that the convoy could have been Special Constables coming to
attack them as a follow-up to their attack the previous night but this is not
likely giving the direction from which the convoy was travelling.)
These incidents lead to very strained relationships between pro-
and anti-Treaty forces in Donegal.