June 1923
|
June-01 |
After
strike-breaking goods convoys, protected by the pro-Treaty army, were
attacked in Waterford, the local commander, Paddy Paul, called in
re-enforcements. (See 14th May above.) On this day, 250 troops from the pro-Treaty
Special Infantry Corps, under Colonel Patrick Dalton (which had been set up
by the pro-Treaty government to, inter alia, break strikes) arrived in
Waterford. More arrived the following
week and it soon had over 600 men deployed, mostly in west Waterford. An
on-going war of attrition ensued between the strikers and the Special
Infantry Corps. Acts of arson,
intimidation and assault were common on both sides. The Special Infantry Corps imposed curfews
and something akin to martial law. The
farmers formed their own vigilante groups which, among other actions,
intimidated any of their own members who looked to settle with the
strikers. The WFA would not negotiate
with the ITGWU and were intent on smashing the union. See 8th
December below. |
McCarthy (2015),
pgs 123-125 |
|
June-06 |
The cabinet of
pro-Treaty Government has special meeting on the northern situation with
particular reference to the Boundary Commission. Kevin O’Shiel puts
forward maximalist and minimalist claims which should be put before the
Commission. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs
288-289 |
|
June-06 |
Old IRA leader,
Liam Tobin, sends letter to Cosgrave requesting a meeting with him and
Mulcahy. They say they want to discuss how to keep “to the forefront
the ideals and objects for which the late Commander-in-Chief [Collins] gave
his life” i.e. acceptance of Treaty as ‘stepping-stone’ to Republic.
They also wanted to discuss grievances as to their treatment in the Free
State army. This letter gives rise to discussions between Cosgrave,
Mulcahy and Attorney-General Kennedy as to how to treat this situation.
Valiulis says that Mulcahy was reluctant to meet them but Cosgrave’s main
concern was to that Old IRA may put up candidates in the forthcoming
elections (August) and split the Cumann na nGaedheal vote. |
Valiulis (1985), pg
36 |
|
June-06 |
Anti-Treaty man,
Captain Joseph Healy from Ballina, Co. Mayo is shot dead by a pro-Treaty
patrol when trying to escape from a house in Stone Park, Claremorris. |
Price (2012), pg
257 |
|
Jun-07 |
The Cork Examiner reports the accidental
death of pro-Treaty Sergeant McCabe when he was shot in Killorglin, Co.
Kerry. |
Doyle (2008), pg
310 |
|
June |
Pro-Treaty
government introduces new Public Order Bill in which powers to intern and
seize land and stock are continued for another six months. It is
heavily criticised by Labour. |
Macardle (1999), pg
862 |
|
Jun-10 |
A meeting takes
place between Cosgrave, O’Higgins, MacNeill, Mulcahy, MacMahon and
O’Murthuile about the IRB. There is conflicting testimony about what
transpired at this meeting (and it became controversial after the army mutiny
in March 1924). Mulcahy and O’Murthuile said that the primary purpose
of the meeting was to discuss a proposal from Tom Barry to revive the IRB as
a way of healing civil war wounds and Mulcahy wanted to revive the IRB so
that (a) it would not fall into anti-Treaty hands and (b) be a mechanism for
getting anti-Treaty IRA men to destroy their arms. O’Higgins subsequently
said that he vigourously opposed the reorganization of the IRB but Mulcahy
claimed that the other three ministers “did see at least some reason for the
position and did not forbid it”. |
Valiulis (1985),
pgs 101-105 |
|
Jun-10 |
Dr Francis Ferran, anti-Treaty
TD for Sligo-Mayo East (and originally from Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry)
dies in custody in the Curragh. The same day, Tom
Maguire, anti-Treaty leader from Mayo escapes from Custume
Barracks, Athlone. |
Price (2012), pg
264-265 & 267; Grant (2018), pg 139 |
|
Jun-12 |
Pro-Treaty soldier,
Private Henderson, is arrested for a bank robbery on Capel St, Dublin |
Dorney (2017), pg
261 |
|
Jun-13 |
Two anti-Treaty
prisoners attempt to escape from Kilkenny Jail using a ‘rope’ made out of
bedsheets. However, they are spotted
by sentries and shot at. One of the
two prisoners, James Morrissey, is fatally wounded. |
Walsh (2018), pg
243 |
|
Jun-22 |
After an incident
on the 2nd June, General Paddy O’Daly and two other pro-Treaty
officers are accused manhandling two daughters (Flossie and Jessie McCarthy)
of local doctor, Dr Randall McCarthy at their home in Inchlough, Kenmare, Co.
Kerry. After an army enquiry, Mulcahy argued that there was not enough
evidence to warrant a court martial but he was strongly criticised by O’Higgins
and others. O’Daly and the two other
officers are forced to resign. |
Hopkinson (1988),
pg 264; Dorney (2017), pgs 261-262 |
|
Jun-25 |
Meeting between
Cosgrave and Mulcahy and Old IRA representatives (Tobin, Dalton, Thornton and
O’Malley). More Detail |
Valiulis (1985),
pgs 37-39 |
|
June |
Anti-Treaty
prisoner Daniel Downey from Dundalk dies in the Curragh camp hospital. |
Durney (2011), pg 162 |