June
1920
|
Jun-01-20/1 |
CIGS Wilson writes in his diary “The [British]
Cabinet are a pack of fools. They have
now given up on the idea of raising 8 batts.
and propose to raise 4,000 R.I.C. I asked Winston why did they not
make it 20,000 at least. He had no
answer.” Wilson and Macready had
wanted to raise the extra men to act as garrison battalions. Presumably, the decision to raise the
additional RIC men was made at the conference the previous day – see
May-31-20/1. |
Boyce (1972), pg 50 |
|
Jun-01-20/2 |
The Dublin Brigade of the IRA raid King's Inn
on Constitutional Hill in Dublin. They
take away 25 rifles, 2 Lewis guns and a quantity of ammunition taken. This raid was led by men from the Squad and Intelligence Department of the IRA – Joe Dolan, Jim Slattery, Tom Keogh, Joe Guilfoyle and George Fitzgerald. They were assisted by men from the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Dublin Brigade. (Kevin Barry took part in this raid – See Sep-20-20/2.) A number of British soldiers were captured but
later released. |
Hopkinson (2002), pg 101; Carey (2001), pg 13; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 239-242; Mitchell (1995), pg 129; Sheehan (2007), pg 19 |
|
Jun-01-20/2 |
Number 12, Volume 2 of An t-Oglaigh (official publication of the Irish Volunteers) states "it is our duty to make our guerrilla warfare against the enemy still more intense and menacing; to give his forces not a moment's ease or rest in any part of the country. This line of action has been followed out to a considerable extent, though not as widespread a manner as it should … Had all the Brigades been equally efficient and equally active, the enemy's hold on the country today would be even more precarious than it is". |
Carey (2001), pg 4 |
|
Jun-01-20/3 |
Newly appointed RIC Divisional Commissioner
for Munster Division 1, Brigadier General Prescott Decie, (see May-1920/1)
writes to Assistant Under Secretary, John Taylor, saying that he has been
told of the new policy and plan of “stamping out terrorism by secret
murder”. (For more on this contentious issue, see
Jul-01-20/6 for Henry Wilson’s entries in his diary on this topic. Also, see
Listowel Mutiny on Jun-19-20/1 and Riddell’s entry in diary on Jun-06-20/3.) |
Doherty and Borgonovo
(2009), pgs 36-39; Townshend (2014), pgs 155-156 |
|
Jun-01-20/4 |
Attack by IRA on Blarney RIC barracks in Co.
Cork fails when a dynamite explosion fails to make breach in the barracks
wall. However, the barracks is subsequently evacuated. An earlier attack on the Carrigadrohid
RIC barrack had also led to its evacuation. Both barracks are subsequently destroyed.
|
Sheehan (1990), pgs 54-55; O'Callaghan (1974), pg 47 |
|
Jun-01-20/5 |
RIC Constable Daniel Crowley resigns in
protest against treatment of Sinn Féin members by Black and Tans. Subsequently, he gives damning evidence to the
American Commission on Conditions in Ireland – See Nov-19-20/1. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg 23 |
|
Jun-01-20/6 |
IRA man Patrick Seery from Cluain-Ui-Thaidgh, Co. Westmeath is wounded during an attack on the Clara RIC barracks in Co. Offaly. He later dies of his wounds. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 93; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 172; Sheehan (2009), pgs 173-175 |
|
Jun-01-20/7 |
Attack by North Sligo Brigade IRA, led by Liam
Pilkington and Seamus Devins, on Fivemilebourne RIC
barracks in north Co. Leitrim. Local companies (which were part of the 8th Battalion, North Sligo Brigade) blocked roads in the vicinity. The attack failed but the barracks was subsequently evacuated and burnt by the IRA on June 16th. |
Farry (2102), pg 55; McGarty (2020), pg 83 |
|
Jun-01-20/8 |
The IRA attack the RIC barracks in Crossgar,
Co. Down. Attack is led by Hugh
Halfpenny from Loughlinisland. The gelignite being used by the IRA
malfunctions, and after two hours, the IRA withdraw. There are no casualties but RIC Sgt
Fitzpatrick is badly wounded. |
Lawlor (2009), pgs 65-66; Lawlor (2011), pgs 24-25; Townshend (2014), pg 174 |
|
Jun-02-20/1 |
The RIC barracks in Feakle
and Broadford in Co. Clare are attacked by the IRA. No casualties on either side. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs 137-138; Kautt (2014), pg 78 |
|
Jun-02-20/2 |
The Irish Times states the following: “Confidence in the sanctions of British law and order vanished long ago, and the whole countryside now bring their rights and wrongs to the courts of Sinn Féin .” |
Gallagher (1953), pg 75 |
|
Jun-03-20/1 |
Lt Colonel Gerard Ferguson Smyth takes up his post as RIC Divisional Commander for Munster 2 (see May-1920/1) - he had been recommended by Tudor with whom he had served in the 9th Scottish Division of the BA. See Jun-19-20/1.
|
Abbott (2000), pg 97; Lawlor (2009) pg 43; Leeson (2012), pg 33 |
|
Jun-03 to 04-20/1 |
IRA attack Drangan RIC Barracks on Kilkenny/Tipperary border. The RIC surrender. Some arms are captured and afterwards the barracks is destroyed. |
Hopkinson (2002), pg 120; Breen (1989), pgs 112-115; Ryan (1945), pgs 132-137; O'Malley (2001), pgs 27-40; O’Malley (1990), pgs 154-156; Leeson (2012), pg 148 |
|
Jun-04-20/1 |
After the British garrison in Enzeli on the Caspian Sea was captured by the Russian Red Army on May 19th 1920, Llyod George gives permission on this date to evacuate British troops from Batum on the Black Sea. (Churchill had been pressing for this
evacuation for some time but he had encountered opposition from Curzon, the
British Foreign Secretary and Milner, the Colonial Secretary. This was part of Churchill’s attempts to
concentrate British troops in areas which he seen as critical to the British
Empire.) See Feb-07-20/1. |
Jeffrey (2006), pg
248 |
|
Jun-04-20/2 |
General Order No. 6 from IRA GHQ orders all
Volunteers to support the boycott of the RIC as ordered by the Dáil. “Notice
is hereby given that intercourse of any kind whatsoever is strictly forbidden
between the citizens of the Irish Republic and that portion of the Army of
Occupation known as the RIC”. The
order goes on to say that “All persons infringing this order will be included
in said boycott.” Hughes notes that it is was almost fourteen
months after the Dáil had said that the RIC should be ostracised. (See Apr-10 to12-19/1.) However, Hughes also notes that there was a
“dramatic surge in dissent and intimidation aimed against the police in the
first six months of 1920”. See also memo from Diarmuid O’Hegarty – See Apr-23-19/1. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg114; Abbott (2019), pgs 165-166; Hughes (2016), pgs 25-26-; Henry (1912), pg 81 |
|
Jun-05-20/1 |
The IRA, under Diarmuid Hurley, ambushes a
cycle patrol of the BA’s Cameron Highlanders at Mile Bush, near Midleton, Co
Cork. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xvi; Cashman in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 59-63; Kautt (2014), pg 79 |
|
June-05-20/2 |
The IRA attack the RIC barracks at Brosna, Co.
Kerry. There are no casualties on either side. |
Harnett (2002), pgs 54-56; Horgan (2018), pg 40 |
|
Jun-06-20/2 |
RIC Sgt Timothy Holland is shot in Cullyhanna, Co Armagh and later dies of his wounds. Constable Raisdale
(or Rossdale) is seriously wounded.
Another Constable (called Rafftery) is
seriously beaten. A civilian, Peter McGreesh or McCreesh from Aughnaduff,
is also killed. It was claimed by the RIC at the inquest that McGreesh was one of the assailants but the doctor giving
evidence said that McGreesh was shot in the back –
this contradicted the RIC testimony. |
Abbott (2000), pgs 86-87; Lawlor (2011), pgs 26-28; O’Farrell (1997), pg 112; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 138-139 |
|
Jun-06-20/3 |
After having dinner with Llyod George and Hugh
Tudor, Lord Riddell writes in his diary that, after Tudor described the
difficulties of police work in Ireland, Llyod George was “very emphatic upon
the necessity of strong measures”.
Quoting Llyod George directly he wrote “When caught flagrante delicto
you must shoot the rebels down. That is the only way.” |
Jeffrey (2006), pg
265 |
|
Jun-07-20/1 |
The RIC barracks in Cappawhite, Co Tipperary is attacked by the IRA but the RIC manage to hold out. |
Breen (1989), pg 116; Ryan (1945), pg 137; O'Malley (2001), pg 59; Kautt (2014), pg 79 |
|
Jun-08-20/1 |
An ex-BA soldier, George Baxter, is displaying
a Mills bomb in Lurgan, Co. Armagh when it explodes – killing James
McConnell. |
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 139 |
|
Jun-09-20/1 |
At the U.S. Republican Party Convention
(meeting in Chicago), two resolutions on Ireland are put before the platform
committee. One from de Valera calling for recognition of the Irish
Republic and another from Coholan calling for sympathy for the Irish
cause. De Valera’s motion is defeated and Coholan’s
is passed but de Valera repudiates it and it is omitted from the
platform.
|
Macardle (1999), pg 369-371 |
|
Jun-09-20/2 |
It is reported in the Belfast Newsletter that General Assembly of Presbyterian Church passed a resolution expressing “sympathy with all loyal citizens who reside in those parts of Ireland where they are exposed to terror and outrage”.
|
Parkinson (2004), pg 23; Parkinson (2020), pg 21 |
|
Jun-10-20/1 |
Dáil cabinet gives Minister of Home Affairs,
Austen Stack, authority “to organise [parish and district courts] in any
counties where he thinks it advisable”.
They also decide, on Stack’s proposal, to
extend civil authority to the courts and to reserve extending them criminal
powers. Stack was concerned about the
enforcement of the courts’ decisions, modes of punishment, etc (but,
according to Mitchell, “he seemed to be unaware of the power of public
opinion and the strong arm of the IRA”). The Dáil courts eventually grew to 44 district
and 900 parish courts rendering more than 5,000 decisions. See also Aug-15-20/4. |
Mitchell (1995), pgs
140 & 145 |
|
Jun-11-20/1 |
Lance-Corporal Cyril Constable of the BA’s
Machine-Gun Corps is killed in a ‘friendly fire’ incident in Limerick. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pg
139 |
|
Jun-12-20/1 |
Local Elections: In local elections for county and rural district councils, Sinn Féin (and nationalists) win control of all but four county councils (these four are Armagh, Londonderry, Antrim and Down). Out of 206 rural district councils, republicans were in the majority in 172. |
Curran J M (1980), pg31; Macardle (1999), pg 252; Phoenix (1994), pg 85; Grant (2018), pg 94; Price (2012), pgs 82-83; Durney (2013), pg 102; Matthews (2004), pg 22; Mitchell (1995), pgs 125-126; Regan (2013), pg 101; |
|
Jun-12-20/2 |
Two RIC men are shot at in the bar of the
Railway Hotel, Limerick. One is killed (Constable John Carroll) and the
other, Constable Norman Cruise, is chased by the man (Paddy Naughton) who
shot at them. Naughton goes on the run and joins the West
Limerick Brigade Flying Column. |
Abbott (2000), pgs 87-88; Harnett (2002), pg 70; Abbott (2019), pg 110; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 139 |
|
Jun-12-20/3 |
RIC Constable Thomas King is attacked and
killed on the Bantry to Glengarriff road near Snave Bridge as he cycles to his Barracks in Glengarriff, Co. Cork. He was unarmed and in
civilian clothes. The IRA is led by Vice-OC, 3rd (West) Cork Brigade, Ted O'Sullivan. The IRA believed that Constable King was involved in the killing of Thomas O’Dwyer (see Mar-30-20/4). |
Abbott (2000), pg 88; Deasy (1973) pg 108; Abbott (2019), pg 110; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 139; Cork Fatality Register |
|
Jun-13-20/1 |
Two British Army soldiers, Private Herbert
Thompson and Private James Cairns, are shot by a sentry as they try to enter
their billets covertly in Earls Island in Galway City. Both die from their wounds. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs
139-140 |
|
Jun-13-20/2 |
Trooper Edward Stratton of the BA’s 17th Lancers is accidently shot dead by a fellow BA soldier in the Ballincollig Cavalry Barracks in Co. Cork. |
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 140; Cork Fatality Register |
|
Jun-13-20/3 |
With the help of insider information (an RIC
man named Patrick Buckley), Michael Brennan and number men from the East
Clare Brigade sneak into the Newmarket-on-Fergus RIC barracks and capture a
number of RIC men who they tie up. They get away with six rifles, six
revolvers, ammunition and intelligence reports. However, see August 5th (Aug-05-20/3) below –
it is possible that Brennan got the wrong barracks in his memoir. |
Brennan (1980), pgs 52-53 |
|
Jun-15-20/1 |
RIC District Inspector Percival Lea-Wilson is
shot and killed near his home in Gorey, Co Wexford. It is alleged that Lea-Wilson was targeted
because of his ill-treatment of Tom Clarke and Ned Daly in the Rotunda
Gardens after their surrender in the wake of the 1916 Rising. This killing was carried out by members of the
Wexford Brigade of the IRA – Joseph McMahon, Sean Whelan and Michael Synott.
Also involved were members of the IRA’s Intelligence Unit – Liam Tobin and
Frank Thornton. |
Abbott (2000), pgs 88-89; O’Farrell (1997), pg 101; McGreevy (2019), pgs 10-11; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 140; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 243-244 |
|
Jun-15-20/2 |
RIC Constable Pierce Doogue
is killed by a blow to the head during a riot in the Main St of Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Doogue
was in civilian clothes and on a visit to the town. He had gone to the aid of beleaguered
colleagues. |
Abbott (2000), pg 89; Price (2012), pg 287; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 140 |
|
Jun-15-20/3 |
Daniel Fitzgerald is killed by a BA lorry on
Leitrim St in Cork City. |
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 140; Cork Fatality Register |
|
Jun-16-20/1 |
The Freeman’s Journal reports that the Sinn Féin Bank had reopened at 6 Harcourt St in Dublin. David Kelly, manager and sole employee of the
bank, had taken a case in the courts against the DMP and BA for return of the
funds and documents seized in a raid on the bank on February 27th – see
Feb-27-20/2. After many delays, the courts said that the
funds and documents should be returned. O’Sullivan Greene says that the failure of the
British authorities to close the bank was a strategic mistake saying that “it
played a front-line role in the money battles during the War of Independence.
It facilitated the running of the Dáil departments, including the overseas
envoy offices, and played a crucial role in laundering the proceeds of the
[Dáil] Loan”. However, the Sinn Féin Bank went into decline
after David Kelly was shot dead in a gun battle between the IRA and the
Auxiliaries in Brunswick St in March 1921- see Mar-14-21/2. |
O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs
153-156 |
|
Jun-17-20/1 |
According to Abbott on this date, the IRA
attempt to enter the RIC barracks in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone with the
assistance of four RIC men – Constables Denis Leonard, Bernard Conway, Thomas
Hargaden and John O’Boyle. However, it is
unsuccessful and results in the death of one IRA man (Patrick Loughran from Dungannon). McCluskey gives the date as June 7th. (McDermott says that it was not a raid but an
attempt to burn Innisrush RIC station in
Cookstown.) In the aftermath, Constable Leonard is
dismissed and the other three resign within three months. Also, see Oct-25-20/2. |
Abbott (2000), pgs 137-138; McDermott (2001), pg 28; Lawlor (2011), pgs 28-29; Abbott (2019), pgs 174-175; McCluskey (2014), pgs 90-91; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 141; Kautt (2014), pg 79 |
|
Jun-17-20/2 |
RIC Constable Patrick McKenna drowns. |
Abbott (2019), pg 410 |
|
Jun-17-20/3 |
Fire opened by RIC on Republican Police who
are in the process of escorting prisoners. |
Gallagher (1953), pg 81 |
|
Jun-17-20/4 |
RIC Sergeant John Campion is accidently shot
by his own revolver in Granard RIC Barracks in Co. Longford. |
Abbott (2019), pg
404; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin
(2020), pgs 140-141 |
|
Jun-17-20/5 |
The Irish Bulletin reports that “British police armed with revolvers raided several shops in Mohill, Co. Leitrim and commandeered supplies. Payment was left for what was taken.” When Collins was informed, he advised that no
action should be taken: “When we have driven them to this position, our
boycott is a success”. |
McGarty (2020), pg
84 |
|
Jun-18-20/1 |
IRA man Thomas Brett from Drombane,
Co. Tipperary dies from wounds he received during an attempt to hold up a
British army officer. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 103; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 141 |
|
Widespread riots and shootings in Derry City in which at least 20 people are killed. |
Hopkinson (2002), pg xiv; Phoenix (1994), pg 87; Gallagher (2003), pgs 25-29; Gallagher (1953), pg 115; Parkinson (2004), pg 24; Grant (2018), pg 98-102; Lawlor (2011), pgs 15-18; Ozseker (2019), pgs 142-154; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 141-145; Macardle (1999), pgs 356-357; Parkinson (2020), pgs 17-20; McGuinness (2018), pgs 136-137 |
|
|
Jun-19-20/1 |
Listowel
Mutiny RIC Divisional Commissioner for Munster 2, Colonel Gerald Smyth, makes a speech to RIC men in Listowel in which it is alleged that he gave them a carte blanche for killing anyone acting suspiciously. A number of RIC men react strongly and resign. See Jul-09-20/3 above and Jul-17-20/1 below. |
Abbott (2000), pg 97; Macardle (1999), pg 360-362; Gallagher (1953), pgs 97-98; Lawlor (2009), pgs 38-56; Horgan (2018) , pg 126; Townshend (2014), pgs158-159; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 245-248 & 256-257; O’Shea (2021), pg 45-48; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 149 |
|
Jun-19-20/2 |
The Ulster Herald reports that a large crowd gathered in Strabane, Co. Tyrone to welcome home Daniel Doherty, the president of the local Roger Casement Sinn Féin Cumman, from Wormwood Scrubs after he had spent six months in prison. (This is typical of many home coming celebrations for released prisoners organised by Sinn Féin throughout the country.) |
McCluskey (2014), pg
2014 |
|
Jun-19-20/2 |
IRA Chief of Staff, Richard Mulcahy, issues an
order that “A police officer would be appointed at company, battalion and
brigade level.” Until the Dáil
developed a criminal code [which it never did] and the Dáil courts were fully
developed, the IRA would assume judicial powers and offenders were to be
brought “before a court of enquiry appointed by the brigade commandant”. GHQ also says no punishments are to be
inflicted on people convicted before republican courts but they should be
held in custody until the following Sunday when they would be paraded after
mass and their names and addresses and offenses would be publicly announced. In practice, it would seem that he Dáil courts
dealt with civil matters and the much smaller IRA courts, when they
functioned, dealt with criminal offenses. See Nov-01-20/7. |
Townshend (2014), pg
133; Mitchell (1995), pgs 149-150 |
|
Jun-20-20/1 |
A proclamation by the West Donegal Brigade of
the IRA on boycotting the RIC states “Business people must make their choice
of the custom of their neighbours or the cowardly ruffians of the R.I.C. A
sensible businessman will be able to judge which pays the best in the long
run”. |
Hughes (2016), pg 34 |
|
Jun-20-20/2 |
The London Sunday Times reports that “An unfortunate who had two daughters waited upon one night by thirty Sinn Féiners, who demanded that she should give up a certain farm. She refused, and in the presence of the horrified mother her daughters were outraged by the thirty scoundrels”. Griffith rejected this report as “obviously a vile, infamous and malicious falsehood”. |
Mitchell (1995), pg
132 |
|
Jun-20-20/3 |
Plunkett made Associate Sec for Foreign Affairs |
Hopkinson (2002), pg 85 |
|
Jun-21-20/1 |
A five-man RIC cycle patrol is attacked at
Clonee Wood, near Bantry, Co. Cork. One RIC man (Constable James Brett)
is killed and two seriously wounded. The IRA is under the command of Maurice ‘Mossy’ Donegan, O/C 5th (Bantry) Battalion, Cork No. 3 Brigade. Regan says that the constable was a “big, quiet, inoffensive policeman”. See Jun-24 to 25-20/1. |
Abbott (2000), pgs 89-90; Deasy (1973) pg 108; Regan (2007), pg 143; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 142; Cork Fatality Register |
|
Jun-21-20/2 |
Three IRA volunteers, Dave Brennan, Patrick
Buckley and Liam Danaher, are severely burnt when trying to burn down Drumcollogher Court House in Co. Limerick – all three die
from their wounds. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 103 & 105; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 142-143 |
|
Jun-21-20/3 |
In this and subsequent issues of the Irish Bulletin, lists of RIC men who were resigning are published. (Sinn Féin issue a directive to all cumainn that “every effort should be made to get employment for RIC men who had already resigned” – See Jul-29-20/4.) |
Gallagher (1953), pg 96; Ó Duibhir (2009), pg 148 |
|
Jun-21-20/4 |
Joe O’Doherty, Sinn Féin TD for North Donegal, is arrested again. |
Ó Duibhir (2009), pg 149 |
|
Jun-22-20/1 |
Howes Strand Coastguard station in Co. Cork is
attacked by 16 IRA men led by Jack Fitzgerald (Captain Kilbrittain
company) and Charlie Hurley (V/C Bandon Battalion) - this attack led to the
capture by the IRA of ten rifles and almost 5,000 rounds of ammunition. See Jul-02-20/2. |
Deasy (1973), pgs 113-114; O’Farrell (1997), pg |
|
Jun-23-20/1 |
A seven-man British Army foot patrol is
ambushed and disarmed by a 21-man party of IRA men at the junction of Carmody
St and O'Connell St in Ennis, Co Clare. The IRA were led by Joe Barrett and they got
away with seven rifles and 300 rounds of ammunition. |
Barrett in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 64-67; Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs 138-140 |
|
Jun-24-20/1 |
British Cabinet sets up a new Cabinet Committee on the Irish Situation to “assist the Viceroy and Chief Secretary”. As with the previous one (see Oct-07-19/1), Walter Long is again Chair and its membership includes Churchill, Birkenhead, Balfour and Fisher. Townshend says that its composition is four
‘hawks’ (Long, Churchill, Birkenhead and Balfour) and only one ‘dove’
(Fisher). Townshend also says that it
“became a strong pressure group for tough action”. |
Townshend (1975), pg 99; Boyce (1972), pg 48 |
|
Jun-24-20/2 |
In his report on the operation of the Ministry
of Finance, Collins notes that £200,000 had been paid in the National Land
Bank. (It was guaranteed stock paying interest at 2%.) See Jun-29-20/2. |
O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg
159 |
|
Jun-24 to 25-20/1 |
Retaliations by RIC in Bantry for the recent
killing of an RIC man (See Jun-21-20/1). One invalided man is shot dead
(Cornelius Crowley) and a number of houses burnt. Regan (who was a serving RIC man at this time)
says that Crowley was shot after firing on a raiding party who entered his
bedroom looking for his brother.
However, O’Halpin and Ó Corráin
say that “four masked men” shot the “deformed and delicate” Crowley in his
bedroom. They do not mention Crowley
shooting at the “four masked men”. See Aug-25-20/1. |
Deasy (1973) pg 108-109; Regan (2007), pg 144; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 143-144
|
|
Jun-25-20/1 |
The Ulster Unionist Council standing committee
announces that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) would be revitalised under
the command of Wilfred Spender. (Independent ‘loyalist vigilante groups’ were
already in existence and some continued in existence even after the
revitalisation of the UVF.) |
Grant (2018), pg 98; Abbott (2019), pg 183; Fanning (2013), pg 233 |
|
Jun-25-20/2 |
RIC Constable Michael Horan, who was attached
to Mountfield Barracks in Co. Tipperary, is shot dead. |
Abbott (2019), pg 113; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 144 |
|
Jun-25-20/3 |
At its first meeting since the elections on June 12th, Donegal County Council passes a motion acknowledging the authority of the Dáil. (It was one of many county councils to do this.) |
Ozseker (2019), pg 101 |
|
Jun-26-20/1 |
Brigadier General Cuthbert Lucas, Commander of
16th Brigade of the BA in Ireland, is captured by the IRA.
|
O’Donoghue (1986), pg76; Townshend (1975), pg 88; Breen (1989), pgs 123-124; Brennan (1980), pgs 54-56; Carroll and Toomey (2017), pgs 416-419; Townshend (2014), pgs 150-151; Kautt (2014), pg 61 |
|
Jun-26-20/2 |
Attack by No. 1 (North) Tipperary Brigade IRA
under Brigade O/C Frank McGrath on Borrisokane RIC
barracks. IRA withdrew when victory seemed imminent which greatly
disappoints Brigade Adjutant, Sean Gaynor. Two IRA men are wounded by their own side and
one of them, Michael Kennedy, dies from his wounds around July 10th. McGrath is subsequently replaced by Gaynor as
Brigade O/C. |
Hopkinson (2002), pg 120; Dooley (2015), pgs 51-53; Townshend (2014), pg 119; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 147 |
|
Jun-26-20/3 |
Frank Carty, O/C Sligo Brigade, IRA is rescued
from Sligo jail along with a number of other IRA prisoners. This is a well
planned and executed operation led by Liam Pilkington and Seamus Devins. |
O’Farrell (1997), pg 13; Farry (2102), pg 56 |
|
Jun-27-20/1 |
Dáil Minister of Home Affairs sets up courts
to try cases of seized or disputed land. Mitchell says these courts
were not to consider cases of people claiming land ownership based their
family being evicted without a written licence from the Minister of Home
Affairs. On September 17th, Dáil sets up Land
Settlement Commission as a separate branch of the Dáil Courts. The
first Commissioner is Kevin O'Sheil. This is an attempt by Sinn Féin to quell
the growing land agitation, especially in the west of Ireland. See May-13-20/3.
|
Figgis (1927), pg 294-295; Price (2012), pgs 69-81; Mitchell (1995), pg 136 |
|
Jun-27-20/2 |
The coastguard station at Rossan Point, near Malin More in west Donegal is raided by five IRA men from the local Carrick battalion led by Éamon O’Boyle (Éamon Ó Baoighill). The three men stationed in the coast guard station surrender without a fight. The IRA took away a number of rifles and ammunition and, after releasing the coast guards, set fire to the station. (A raid had been planned for later but had to be carried out sooner when information was received that reinforcements were due to arrive.) O’Farrell says June 1st. |
Ó Duibhir (2009), pgs 142-143; O’Farrell (1997), pg 74 |
|
Jun-27-20/3 |
RIC Head Constable Samuel Perrott is hit on the head by a stone during a riot in the Sandy’s Row area of Belfast and dies in hospital on July 1st. |
Abbott (2019), pgs 410-412; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 145 |
|
Jun-27-20/4 |
Co. Meath is transferred from the BA’s 5th Division to the Dublin District. |
Sheehan (2009), pg
57 |
|
Jun-28-20/1 |
British Army forces loot and burn in Fermoy,
Co. Cork for a second time (for first time, see Sep-08-19/1) in retaliation
for capture of General Lucas - see Jun-26-20/1 above. See also Jul-30-20/1. |
Townshend (1975), pg 88; Breen (1989), pg 124; Sheehan (2017), pg 26 & 35 |
|
Jun-29-20/1 |
Connaught
Rangers Mutiny 250 members of the BA’s First Battalion of the Connaught Rangers, stationed in India, lay down their arms in protest at the news from Ireland. During an attempt by about 50 mutineers on July 1st to storm a magazine, two are killed (Patrick Smyth and Peter Sears). The mutineers are arrested the following morning. Many are court-martialled and one, Private James Daly from Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath is executed on November 2nd. (One of the men who took part in the mutiny was Joseph Hawes from Kilrush, Co. Clare.) For a detailed account of the Connaught Rangers Mutiny and its aftermath – See Babington (1991). |
Coogan (1990), pg 151; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 25 & 42; Macardle (1999), pg 364; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 145-146 & 212; Molyneux and Kelly (2021), pgs 13-14 |
|
Jun-29-20/2 |
Eight Session of First Dáil Secret meeting of Dáil Éireann with 46 deputies present. (First meeting since October 27th 1919.) Reviews work on the Land Bank, Industrial Commission, Arbitration Courts, etc. Proceeding of the Eight Session of the Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1920-06-29/ See Aug-06-20/2 for Ninth Session of First Dáil. |
Macardle (1999), pgs 364-365 and 375; Gallagher (1953), pg 259; Townshend (2014), pgs 128-129; Mitchell (1995), pgs 57 & 79 & 83-84 & 191-192; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 150 & 160 |
|
Jun-30-20/1 |
The Kilkeel Board of Guardians in south County
Down becomes the first public authority from the six-county area to proclaim
its allegiance to Dáil Eireann. By the end of July, Belleek,
Downpatrick and Newry public authorities had also given their allegiance to
Dublin. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 90 |
|
Jun-30-20/2 |
Curfew in Dublin (see Feb-23-20/2) lessened by
the British – now from midnight until 3am.
But see Nov-22-20/1. |
Sheehan (2007), pg 67 |
|
Jun-30-20/3 |
McNamara says that Galway IRA Volunteer,
William Freeney, dies from burns after an arson attack on the Athenry Tennis
and Croquet Club in Co. Galway goes wrong.
However, O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that Freeney died on June 30th 1921. Latter would seem to be correct. |
McNamara (2018), pg
153; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin
(2020), pgs 501-502 |
|
June-30-20/4 |
Writing to CIGS Wilson, Macready draws the following
distinction, he says that Sinn Féin is “merely the name of a political
organisation of which many people are what you may call law-abiding citizens,
while the people to be dealt with are the I.R.A., etc, who are no doubt also
Sinn Feiners by politics”. |
Jeffrey (2006), 264 |
|
Jun-1920/2 |
At the British Labour Party conference, a
motion is put forward by Sidney Webb in favour of self-determination for
Ireland. Emanuel Shinwell asks for a
clear definition of self-determination.
A Labour Party leader, J. H. Thomas, said that
it did not mean that the Irish people had a right to “the establishment of an
Irish Republic”. |
Boyce (1972), pgs 119-120 |
|
Jun-1920/3 |
David Neligan, who had resigned from the DMP,
is persuaded by Collins to return to working for the DMP and act as a spy for
the IRA. As part of their re-organisation, the British
had set up a special wing of the G-Division of the DMP in Dublin Castle under
Detective John Burton. Collins’s two
G-Division informants (Ned Broy and Joseph Cavanagh) were still stationed in
Brunswick St and his other main DMP informant (Jim McNamara) was assigned to
the new Assistant Commissioner Denis Barrett (who had replaced Redmond – see
Jan-21-20/1). (Cavanagh was to die of embolism in late
October 1920.) |
Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pg
223 and pg 331 |
|
Jun-1920/4 |
Ring Coastguard station (near Clonakilty, Co.
Cork) attacked by IRA under Dan Harte and a number of weapons captured. |
Deasy (1973), pgs 113-114 |
|
Jun-1920/5 |
Ballinamuck
RIC barracks in Co. Longford attacked by the IRA. No casualties on either side but RIC
subsequently evacuate the barracks. |
Coleman (2003), pg
120 |
|
Jun-1920/6 |
An Arab revolt breaks out in Mesopotamia
against British occupation – the revolt is suppressed by the British by
October (in part, using Trenchard’s ‘air policing’ scheme – see
May-01-1920/4). An evaluation by the British War Office (on December 10th) “concurred in by the CIGS [Wilson]” says that “we ran things too fine and a great disaster was only narrowly avoided”. See Jul-15-20/4 for Wilson’s response to
British military imperial overreach in Mesopotamia and elsewhere. |
Jeffrey (2006), pg 250 |
|
Jun-1920/7 |
Two large mansions in Limerick (Mount Shannon
at Annacotty and Hermitage at Castleconnell)
are burnt down by the IRA. |
O’Callaghan (2018), pg 80 |
|
Jun-1920/8 |
There is a large ceremony in Rome to beatify
Oliver Plunkett. It is attended by all
but two of the Irish RC bishops as well as bishops from America and
Australia. The Dáil cabinet sends a large delegation
including Sean T. O’Kelly, Count Plunkett, Count Byrne, Donal Hales and
Professor Stockley. Plunkett and O’Kelly had private audiences
with Pope Benedict XV with Plunkett reporting that the Pope “showed an acute
and lively interest in the affairs of Ireland”. The Irish delegation would seem to have
undermined the British attempts to get a papal condemnation of the IRA. See Aug-01-20/3. |
Mitchell (1995), pgs 185-186 |