Attack on Musgrave St. RIC Barracks

Introduction from Chronology

During an attack by the IRA on Musgrave St. RIC barracks in Belfast one RIC man is killed (Constable John Collins) and a Special Constable McKeown is wounded. 

More Detail

The aim of this attack was to capture two armoured cars for use in the joint pro- and anti-Treaty IRA offensive in Northern Ireland due to start the next day - see May-19-22/1. 

Parkinson says that attack was led by Roger McCorley and Seamus Woods and that the IRA had to retreat without the arsenal of weapons that it was hoping to capture.  The report on this raid from Woods to O’Duffy given in McDermott.  (Hopkinson says this attack took place on May17^th but according to Woods’ report, attacking party – 20 men – gathered on evening of May 17^th but they waited until 3.00am on May 18^th to execute attack.) Constable Collins was shot by Capt Joe Murray. 

Parkinson also says that RIC officer William Berry was shot on this day in the Millfield area of Belfast following a botched robbery and a Protestant carter, William McKnight, was shot during the early morning in Academy St. in Belfast.

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