October 1920

cOct-01-20/1

Patrick O'Brien of Liscarroll is made Column Commander of Cork No. 2 Brigade.

 

O’Donoghue (1986), pg103

Oct-01-20/2

In his memoir, Charlie Dalton says that he and Joe Leonard fired on a number of BA soldiers who were searching people as they crossed a bridge in Drumcrondra in Dublin.  He says that “It appeared that two soldiers were killed by our fire”.    However, no other sources confirm two BA deaths on this date and place.

 

Dalton (1929), pgs 75-81

Oct-01-20/3

At a British cabinet conference held in Downing St, the issue of reprisals was discussed and agreement was reached “that reprisals by burning must be put a stop to at the earliest possible moment”. 

However, it was also noted that “in the exceptional circumstances prevailing in Ireland it could not be guaranteed that occasional and spasmodic incidents of this kind would not occur”.  Further, the minutes continue “it was difficult to prevent [Crown Forces] from taking reprisals against the local Sinn Féin leaders, who were perfectly well known to them as heads of the local murder gangs”.

The minutes also note that “it transpired that even the unauthorised reprisals had unquestionably had a visible effect both in enabling the Executive [in Dublin Castle] to obtain information about ambushes and plots, and in driving a wedge between the moderates and extremists in the Sinn Féin camp”.

Roskill comments that it was apparent at this conference that, in Hankey’s words “The truth is that these [murder] reprisals are more or less winked at by the Government” – see Oct-05-20/4.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 55; Roskill (1972), pgs 196-197

Oct-01-20/4

Arthur Griffith holds a press conference in which he claims that there was a list of Sinn Féin leaders marked down for assassination by British agents.  He says that the men who were to carry out these killings were the same men killed Councillor John Lynch – see Sep-23-20/1.

 

 

Oct-01-20/5

John Connolly, a Lieutenant in the Bandon Company of the Cork No. 3 Brigade of the IRA, is arrested by the British Army and taken to Bandon military barracks.  They claim that he was later released but on October 16th his body is found in Castle Bernard Park, Bandon, Co. Cork.  He was shot dead by members of the BA’s Essex Regiment.

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg 20; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 187; Cork Fatality Register

Oct-01-20/6

Referring to the old (i.e. pre-1920) RIC, An t-Óglach writes that “without their local knowledge the Black and Tans would be helpless; it is they who mark out men for murder and houses for destructions”. 

It goes on to say that “The wretched cut-throats and looters of the “Black and Tans” do not deserve punishment half as much as the cowardly Irish spies of the old “R.I.C.” who remain to carry on the dirty work against their countrymen”.

 

Mac Conmara (2021), pgs 109-110

Oct-01-20/7

Referring to the reprisals in Ireland by Crown Forces, the Times of London says that “The name of England is being sullied throughout the Empire and throughout the world by this savagery from which the [British] Government can no longer escape, however much they seek to disclaim responsibility”.

 

Abbott (2019), pg 223

Oct-02-20/1

The secretary of the local Sinn Féin cumann, John O’Hanlon from Lackagh, Turloughmore, Co. Galway is shot dead by the RIC including Auxiliaries.  He ran from the house when the RIC raided it and his body was found in a nearby field the following morning. 

The RIC Inspector for West Galway subsequently reported that he has been shot ‘while trying to escape’. Mourners at his funeral had shots fired over their heads and some were physically attacked by the RIC. 

McNamara says that O’Hanlon’s killing does not seem to be related to any previous attack but Henry suggests that it may have been related to an incident on June 28th in Lackagh village when five RIC were surrounded by fifteen armed men and had their bicycles and capes taken of them before being released. 

Lesson puts this killing in the context of the arrival of D Company of the Auxiliaries in Galway (see cSep-15-20/3).  He says that after their arrival “the West Riding’s police went of the offensive, with the temporary cadets of D Company leading the way”.  For the next activity of the Auxiliaries in Galway, see Oct-04-20/2.

(Most sources say October 2nd but Leeson says October 5th.)

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 80; Gallagher (1953), pg 296; McNamara (2018), pg 149; Henry (2012), pgs 129-132; Leeson (2012), pgs  47; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 187-188

Oct-02-20/2

South Roscommon Brigade IRA, led by O/C Dan O’Rourke, attack Frenchpark RIC barracks but fail to take it.  There are no casualties on either side. 

The following night, the RIC burn two shops in the nearby village of Ballinagare and carry out the mock execution of a young man called Patrick Flynn.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 84; Leeson (2012), pgs 204-205

Oct-02-20/3

Alfred Wicks of the BA’s 10th Hussars is killed in an accident in Ennis, Co. Clare.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 188

Oct-03-20/1

Four RIC men were shot at in Patrick's St., Cork City resulting in the death of one (Constable Clarence Chave) and the wounding of two others.

Constable Chave was from Sheerness in Kent and had three months service in the RIC.

Abbott (2000), pg 129; Abbott (2019), pg 163; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 188; Borgonovo (2007), pg 11; Cork Fatality Register

Oct-04-20/1

British Army patrol (30 strong) surprise an IRA ambush party (60 Strong) at the Chetwynd Railway Viaduct between Cork City and Bandon but most of the ambush party manage to escape towards Ballincollig. 

However, an IRA scout, Jeremiah Herlihy, was shot.  He may have been captured before being shot.  He dies on October 14th. 

The IRA ambush party (who were from the 3rd (Ovens) Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade) had lain in ambush the three previous days.  Sheehan says that the BA was acting on “Local intelligence”. 

 

Townshend (1975), pg 122; Borgonovo (2007), pg 11; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 193; Sheehan (2017), pg 123: Cork Fatality Register

Oct-04-20/2

Auxiliaries enter a dancehall at Knockroon near Headford, Co. Galway and single out five men.  The men are flogged and hit with rifle butts. 

Also, a number of houses in the Headford area are raided that night including the home of Patrick Cullen, a RIC man who was considering resigning.  He is dragged out into the road and flogged with sticks and a leather strap. 

For the next actions of the Auxiliaries in Galway – see Oct-09-20/2.

 

Henry (2012), pg 133

Oct-04-20/3

12 men from the 7th Battalion, Cork No. 3 Brigade IRA led by Battalion O/C Sean Lehane capture the Schull RIC Barracks after learning the password from a young RIC constable called Daly. 13 rifles, 26 revolvers and other equipment is captured.

 

Deasy (1973), pgs 149-152

Oct-05-20/1

RIC reprisal in Boyle, Co Roscommon

Hopkinson (2002), pg 80

Oct-05-20/2

Lieutenant Horace L’Amie of the BA’s The Duke of Wellington’s (Regiment) kills himself at Collinstown Aerodrome in Co. Dublin.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 188

Oct-05-20/3

In a letter to The Times of London, British Liberal Party Leader, H. H. Asquith advocates ‘dominion home rule’ for Ireland.  He later drew attention of the precedent of South Africa where giving dominion status had been “justified and more than justified by the result”. 

See retort from the Scotsman newspaper the following day (Oct-06-20/1) and also Llyod George’s attack on Asquith’s proposal (Oct-09-20/1). See Asquith’s qualification on Nov-26-20/6.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 122-123

Oct-05-20/4

According to Maurice Hankey (British Cabinet Secretary), Llyod George in a conversation with Grey said that, while he [Llyod George] condemned the burning of houses, he “strongly defended the murder reprisals … He showed that these had from time immemorial been resorted to in difficult times in Ireland; he gave numerous instances where they had been effective in checking crimes …  The truth is that these reprisals are more or less winked at by the Government”. 

See Nov-10-20/4.

 

Roskill (1972), pg 196;

Oct-06-20/1

Replying to Asquith’s letter in The Times of London the previous day, the Scotsman newspaper says “We trust the Dominions, Mr Asquith would say; why not trust Ireland?  The cases are in no respect analogous.  Reason and instinct bid us trust the Dominions; both reason and instinct warn us against trusting Sinn Féin”.  A number of other conservative newspapers give similar opinions.

 

 

Oct-06-20/2

In an unusual step, the Irish Administration (in Dublin Castle) issue a statement which admits that reprisals had taken place in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo - see Sep-30-20/2. 

They say that the reprisals took place because of RIC’s men reaction to seeing “DI Brady lying dead on the floor … they broke out of hand and rushed into the street calling on Sinn Féiners to come out and fight them like men”. 

Subsequently, the Chief Secretary, Hamar Greenwood, claimed that everyone who suffered in the reprisals connived at or condoned the killing.

See Oct-20-20/3.

 

Townshend (1975), pg 120-121; Farry (2012), pg 59

Oct-06-20/3

Abbott says that two RIC men were on patrol on Bishop's St., Derry City on October 6th when they were shot at by unionists resulting in the death of one (Constable John Flaherty).  Abbott says that he died on October 16th.

Gallagher (who gives the date as October 18th) suggests that Flaherty was shot because of his earlier arrest of a unionist, Cameroon Finlay, on the Carlisle Road.  Ozseker gives the date as October 16th as does O’Halpin and Ó Corráin.

There were no RIC reprisals in the aftermath of the killing of Flaherty which was unusual.  See Nov-06 to 07-20/1.

Abbott (2000), pg 130; Gallagher (2003), pg 32; Grant (2018), pg 103; Lawlor (2011), pg 75; Ozseker (2019), pg 155; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 195

Oct-06-20/4

A rate collector, Michael Curran, is shot and wounded at this home in Aughavas, Co. Leitrim.

 

McGarty (2020), pg 88

Oct-06-20/5

John Clifford from Derry City dies after being shot by an RIC curfew patrol for (the RIC say) failing to halt.  His mother, who was with Clifford, at the time says that he was shot before she heard the order to halt.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 104; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 188

Oct-06-20/6

Patrick Thompson from Lisnageeragh, Co. Longford is shot dead by an RIC man, Constable Henry Corbett, in Finea, Co. Westmeath. 

Apparently, Corbett said that he was shooting at IRA men whom he thought were going to attack him. For this reason, he was acquitted of murder. (Corbett had been drinking before he shot Thompson.)

Just one RIC man had been shot dead in Co. Westmeath up to this point in time (see Aug-22-20/1).

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 188

Oct-06-20/7

The Flying Column of Cork No. 2 Brigade, IRA, (assisted by men from local companies) led by Liam Lynch and Ernie O’Malley, ambush a lorry containing BA soldiers at Ballydrochane between Kanturk and Newcastle. 

The driver (Private E. W. Cowin of the RASC) is killed and the, after a short fight, the remaining BA soldiers surrender.

The IRA used the Hotchkiss machine, captured in the raid on Mallow BA Military barracks (see Sep-27-20/7) in this ambush. 

 

O’Donoghue (1986), pg103; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 189-190; Cork Fatality Register

Oct-07-20/1

A six-man RIC patrol is ambushed near the village of Feakle, Co. Clare resulting in the death of two RIC men (Sgt Francis Doherty and Constable William Stanley).  This ambush was carried out by the 6th Battalion, East Clare Brigade IRA led by Thomas Tuohy. 

Seven houses are burnt by the RIC in retaliation including the post office and the priest’s house.  Many people are also attacked by Crown Forces.

Abbott (2000), pg 130; Brennan (1980), pg 62; Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs 174-177; Abbott (2019), pg 164; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 188; Mac Conmara (2021), pgs 114-121

Oct-07-20/2

A circular is issued by TJ Smith, Inspector General, RIC announcing non-pensionable additions to pay for RIC men "in respect of increased cost of living".  RIC men's costs had increased due to the campaign of ostracism being conducted against them. 

From October 1st, Constables were to received 12 shillings per week extra, Sergeants 13 shillings and 6 pence extra and Head Constables 15 shillings extra.  These were quite substantial increases on basic pay. 

Recruitment to the RIC increases substantially after these increases from within Ireland and, especially, from Britain.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 132; Abbott (2019), pg 167

Oct-07-20/3

The IRA attack the RIC barracks in Ardara, Co. Donegal but they are beaten off.

 

Ó Duibhir (2009), pg 183

Oct-08-20/1

The editorial of the Weekly Summary (the RIC’s in-house newspaper) states “Reprisals are wrong.  They are bad for the discipline of the force.  They are bad for Ireland, especially if the wholly innocent suffer.  Reprisals are wrong but reprisals do not happen only by accident.  They are the result of the brutal, cowardly murder of police officers by assassins, who take shelter behind the screen of terrorism and intimidation they have created.  Police murder produces reprisals. Stop murdering policemen.” 

 

Leeson (2017), pg 384; Townshend (2014), pg 216

Oct-08-20/2

During an attempt by the IRA to capture his revolver, RIC Constable Dennison sustains shot gun wounds in Dunamore, Co. Tyrone.

 

McCluskey (2014), pg 94

Oct-08-20/3

Led by their O/C, Mick Murphy, IRA men from the 2nd Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade, IRA attack a BA lorry containing seven soldiers in Barrack St, Cork City. One BA soldier, Private Gordon Squibb of the Hampshire Regiment, is killed and two others injured. Over 30 IRA volunteers took part in this ambush – the IRA threw two or three bombs at the lorry.

Two IRA men (Mick Murphy and Tadgh O’Sullivan) were injured in this attack.  Four civilians (Thomas Madden, Denis Buckley, Kate Fitzpatrick and Jeremiah Linehan) were also wounded and treated in hospital for their injuries.

 

Borgonovo (2007), pg 11, O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 189; Sheehan (2017), pgs 127-128; Cork Fatality Register

Oct-08-20/4

A letter from Brigadier General Cockerill MP appears in London Times suggesting a conference of plenipotentiaries from Britain and Ireland to discuss settlement, to be preceded by a truce and amnesty with the resulting agreement to be submitted to both parliaments for acceptance or rejection but not amendment.

 

Coogan (1990), pgs 185-186; Macardle (1999), pg 412; Boyce (1972), pg 64

Oct-08-20/5

The home of Michael, Austen and Patrick Brennan in Meelick, Co. Clare is burnt by Crown Forces.  All three are ‘on the run’. Their widowed mother and their sister were living in the house and left homeless.

 

Mac Conmara (2021), pgs 110-111

Oct-09-20/1

Llyod George Speech in Caernarfon

In a speech in which he gave in Caernarvon or Carnarvon (Modern: Caernarfon) in Wales, Lloyd George spoke of the necessity of breaking the “murder gangs”.  He went on to say "The police naturally feel that the time has come to defend themselves and that is what is called reprisals in Ireland.  Sinn Féin cannot have it both ways.  If they were at war they must expect the consequences.  You cannot have a one-sided war."

(Comment: It may be worthwhile to note that Lloyd George or the British Cabinet had never declared war in Ireland – see, for example, Apr-30-20/1.)

He went on to say that "There is no doubt that at last their [the RIC’s] patience has given way and there has been some severe hitting back.  Let us be fair to these gallant men who are doing their duty in Ireland." He went on to ask “Were the police to be shot down like dogs in the streets without any attempt to defend themselves?”

Abbott notes that this speech hints strongly at official support for reprisals. Morgan says that “Llyod George and Churchill, the War Minster, let the police and Auxies have their heads, and sanctioned a policy of ‘counter-terrorism’ throughout southern Ireland”.

Llyod George also uses this speech to attack Asquith’s support for Dominion Home Rule (see Oct-05-20/3) saying that the Irish might give their word of honour that they would not use dominion home rule to damage Great Britain but conditions might change.

Llyod George gives a similar speech at the Guildhall on November 9th – see Nov-09-20/1.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 179; Abbott (2019), pgs 226-227; Boyce (1972), pg 128; Morgan (1979), pg 130; Sheehan (2017), pgs 102-103

Oct-09-20/2

Three brothers from Maree, near Oranmore, Co. Galway – Thomas, Stephen and Patrick Deveney – are taken from their beds and dragged out into the road by men wearing khaki clothes demanding to know if they were Sinn Féiners.  All three are shot but survive. 

Another man – Albert Cloonan – is also dragged from his bed and shot.  The local Sinn Féin hall and a house are burnt down the same night.  This was probably the work of the Auxiliaries from nearby Galway City.

 

Leeson (2012), pg 47

Oct-09-20/3

Two rail wagons, loaded with BA military supplies, are burnt by the IRA led by Peadar Clancy at Kingsbridge station in Dublin. The ten-man BA party guarding the wagons were disarmed.

 

Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 302-303

Oct-09-20/4

The Kerry People report that “a labourer recently tarred in the Milltown district [of Co. Kerry] has been taken away by the Crown forces”.

 

O’Shea (2021), pg 50

Oct-09-20/5

The official report of the results of the Dáil Loan are published in Old Ireland. It says that £371,849 was collected. 

This was 50% higher than the target set on April 4th 1919 (see Apr-1 to 4-19/1) and it was to rise to £400,000 when some outstanding funds and money from London was received – See Aug-26-21/1.

 

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 176

Oct-10-20/1

Edwin Montagu, Secretary of State for India in the British cabinet, in a memo for his cabinet colleagues, says “I have a growing conviction that even if the murder gang in Ireland can be destroyed by this process [of reprisals] – which I doubt – the younger generation is being educated in murderous thought”.

 

Townshend (2014), pg 217

Oct-10-20/2

A dismissed Auxiliary, Major Ewen Cameron Bruce (who had only one arm), along with a serving Auxiliary, Alan Thomas Bruce (his nephew) and two British soldiers (Lieutenant Cooper and Sergeant Blake of the Devonshire Regiment) raid the home of creamery manager (John Power) in Kells, Co. Tipperary. £75 is stolen. 

Major Bruce goes back home to England but is subsequently arrested and returned to Ireland to stand trial.  He is given a one-year prison sentence and his nephew is given a three-month sentence.  The two soldiers are not charged as they did not enter the house.

Major Bruce continued to proclaim his innocence and said, among other things, that he was the victim of a set-up to stop him disclosing the theft of money by Auxiliaries, based in Inistioge, from Kilkenny Post Office – see Sep-11-20/2.

(Walsh says that Kells mentioned above is in Co. Tipperary but Leeson says that it is in Co. Dublin.  I could find no Kells in either of these two counties but there is a Kells in Co. Kilkenny, quite near the border with Co. Tipperary.)

 

Walsh (2018), pg 268; Leeson (2012), pgs 122-124

Oct-10-20/3

Auxiliary Cadet William Anderson is accidently shot dead in Beggars Bush Barracks in Dublin.

Abbott (2019), pg 403; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 191

Oct-10-20/4

Volunteers from the Bandon Battalion of Cork No. 3 Brigade, IRA ambush a British Army patrol near Newcestown Cross, Co. Cork resulting in the deaths of two officers (Lt Robert Robertson and Lt Gurth Richardson) and wounding four other soldiers.  Richardson was in the RAF and Robertson was in the Essex Regiment.  IRA led by Sean Hales.

(Townshend says only one officer was killed but O’Halpin and Ó Corráin and the CFR confirm that the second officer died on October 13th 1920. Kautt says that Major Arthur Percival of the BA’s Essex Regiment received an OBE for showing “great personal bravery” in this encounter.)

 

Townshend (1975), pg 123;  Deasy (1973), pgs 144-146; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 189 & 192; Kautt (2014), pg 202; Sheehan (2017), pg 120; Cork Fatality Register

Oct-10-20/5

Maurice Griffin is shot by a BA patrol in Cork City for allegedly failing to stop when challenged.  He dies the following day in hospital.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 190; Cork Fatality Register

Oct- 11 to 12-20/1

At 'Fernside', the home of Professor Carolan in Drumcondra, Dublin a gunfight takes place between a raiding party of Crown Forces and Dan Breen and Sean Tracey (from Tipperary 3rd Brigade, IRA) who were staying at the house.

This gunfight results in the death of two BA soldiers and Professor Carolan.

More Detail

Abbott (2000), pg 98; O'Farrell P (1997), pg xvii; Gleeson (1962), pg 104; Coogan (1990), pg 151; Breen (1989), pgs 138-149; Ryan (1945), pgs 157-169; Townshend (1975), pg 128; Lawlor (2009), pgs 190-196; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 304 – 310; 26 Sheehan (2007), pg 26

Oct-12-20/1

Ambush on an RIC patrol at Fourmilehouse, Ballinderry, Co Roscommon by men from 2nd and 3rd Battalions, South Roscommon Brigade IRA led by Pat Madden.

Hopkinson says four RIC men were killed as a result of this ambush.  O’Callaghan also says four RIC were killed (one sergeant and three constables.)  Abbott, in both editions of his book, says that five RIC men were killed.  He names the five as Sgt Peter McArdle; Sgt Martin O'Connor; Constable John Crawford; Constable Francis Gallagher and Constable Michael Kenny.

However, work by Dr Kay MacKeogh has shown that Sgt Peter McArdle was not killed at this ambush but that he was shot in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon on January 5th 1921 – see Jan-05-21/5. 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin do not name McArdle but do name the other four RIC men. They also say that McArdle was shot on January 5th 1921.

See also Nov-15-20/1.

 

Hopkinson (2002), pg 143 & Abbott (2000), pg 133-134; O’Callaghan (2012), pgs 87-89; Abbott (2000), pgs 169-170; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 190-191 & 194

Oct-12-20/2

Michael Kelly, a nationalist hackney driver of Glaslough St, Monaghan, is killed as he drives home with his brother.  He dies the next day.  Probably killed by loyalists.

He was going home after driving Fr Murray of Tydavnet home.  The priest may have been the target.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg108; Dooley (2017a), pgs 84-85; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 192; Dooley (2017a), pg 84

Oct-12-20/3

IRA Volunteers James Gleeson, Robert Walsh, Martin Roche, James Byrne and Michael Fitzgerald die after explosives with which they are working accidently explode at St Kierans, Saltmills, Co. Wexford.  Nine others are injured.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 103 & 107 & 108; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 191;

Oct-12-20/4

In a circular, the Ulster Bank says that, due to the Boycott of Belfast banks and insurance companies (see Aug-11-20/2), pressure had become “so acute that steps had to be taken to ask the British Government to declare a moratorium against withdrawals”.

 

Parkinson (2020), pg 127

Oct-12-20/5

BA soldier, Alexander Bannister, dies as a result of a drowning accident in Lough Corrib, Galway.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 554

Oct-13-20/1

Hamar Greenwood (Chief Secretary) and John Anderson (Joint Under Secretary) travel to Belfast to meet a deputation of the Ulster Unionist Council's Standing Committee.

 

Hopkinson (2002), pg 159

Oct-13-20/2

The British cabinet considers amending the Government of Ireland Act to include a measure of financial autonomy for Ireland.  It is supported by Austen Chamberlain and Laming Worthington Evans but is rejected by Llyod George.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 121

Oct-13-20/3

The Cork Constitution and the Cork Examiner publish a long letter from the Assistant Secretary of the “All Ireland Anti-Sinn Féin Society (Cork Circle)” saying, inter alia, that “If in the future any member of his Majesty’s forces be murdered TWO members of the Sinn Féin Party in the County of Cork will be killed, and in the event of a member of the Sinn Féin Party not being available THREE sympathizers will be killed”.

A similar letter is published in the Limerick Leader on October 18th.

 

Borgonovo (2007), pg 9; Abbott (2000), pg 173; O’Callaghan (2018), pg 84

Oct-13-20/4

James Mahoney or Mahony (aka John Hawkes) is shot dead by an IRA man, Denis Coakley, as an alleged spy as he leaves Skibbereen Workhouse in Co. Cork.  Mahoney was said to be of “weak intellect” and he was also ex-BA.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 191-192; Cork Fatality Register

 

Oct-13-20/5

An ex-BA soldier, Joseph Cotter, who worked as a clerk in Victoria Barracks in Cork City, goes missing on October 13th and his body is found in a disused quarry on October 15th. 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that had been shot by the IRA as an alleged informer but the Cork Fatality Register say that he may have accidently fallen into the quarry when trying to avoid a BA curfew patrol.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 193; Cork Fatality Register

Oct-13-20/6

The ‘All-Ireland Anti-Sinn Féin Society’ convenes in Limerick.

O’Callaghan (2018), pg 84

Oct-14-20/1

An IRA man (Vol Matt Furlong) is badly injured in Dunboyne, Co Meath after high explosives he is working with accidentally goes off - he dies later in the Mater Hospital, Dublin. He was attempting to construct a trench mortar.

Breen (1989), pg 152; Townshend (2014), pg 200; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 194; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pg 310; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 108

Oct-14-20/2

Sir Edward Carson, speaking to a meeting in the Constitutional Club, London, says "I see a good deal in the papers about the horrors of reprisals.  For God's sake let's concentrate ourselves upon the horrors of murder and assassination."

 

 

Oct-14-20/3

Liam (or Bill) O'Connell from Lackandara, Co. Cork (O’Donoghue says Lackandara; Ryan says Lombardstown; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say Glantane) is killed in Dublin while carrying out an attack on a BA armoured car parked outside the Munster and Leinster Bank, at the junction of North Circular Road and Phibsboro Road. 

The armoured car is collecting wages from the bank and the intention of the attack by a party of nine IRA men under Charlie Byrne was to rob the money.

 

O’Donoghue (1986), pg106; Ryan (1945), pgs 172-173; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 192; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 310-312

Oct-14-20/4

Sean Tracey (Tipperary IRA) is killed in a shoot-out in Talbot St, Dublin; a British intelligence officer (Lt Gilbert Price) is also killed as are two civilians (15 or 17 year-old Patrick Carroll and 52-year old Joseph Corringham or Cunningham).  Another British soldier (Sgt Francis Christian) is wounded 

Joe Vize, IRA GHQ's Director of Purchases, Leo Henderson and Sean Forde are arrested.  (Abbott says that all IRA men escaped.  Also Townshend says the date was October 20th.) 

Tracey is buried two days later in Kilfeacle cemetery, near Solohead, Co Tipperary.

Townshend (1975), pg 122; Coogan (1990), pg 152; Abbott (2000), pg 99; Breen (1989), pgs 153-154; Ryan (1945), pgs 174-188 & pgs 193-198; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 192-193; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 312-318; Sheehan (2007), pgs 26-27; O’Farrell (1997), pgs 98 & 103 & 105 & 126

Oct-14-20/5

Sixty-two year old Peter O’Carroll [or Carroll] is shot dead by British forces (probably Auxiliaries) after answering the door of his shop/home at 92 Manor St, Dublin at 2.00am.  The British were looking for his sons (Liam, Michael and Sean) who were members of the 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA.

More Detail and Discussion

 

Gleeson (1962), pg 105; Breen (1989), pg 132; O’Farrell (1997), pg 103; Brennan (1950), pg 101; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 194; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 318-319

Oct-15-20/1

Field Marshall Henry Wilson writes in his diary that Lloyd George was “going to shoulder the responsibility of the reprisals but wanted to wait until the American elections were over”.   See Nov-1920/1.

Macardle (1999), pg 391; Fanning (2013), pg 239

Oct-15-20/2

Four men (one a member of the BA’s RASC) are standing at the corner of Mary St and Capel St in Dublin when they are accosted to two men who ask one of the four men, William Robinson, if he is a Sinn Féiner.  Robinson jokes with them and they fire four shots at him.  Robinson dies in Jervis Street Hospital the following day.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 195

Oct-15-20/3

A schoolteacher, Patrick Joyce, is abducted from his home in Barna, Co. Galway by the IRA.  Letters he sent to the RIC had been intercepted by the IRA.  He is court martialled, shot dead and secretly buried.  After his abduction, Crown Forces mount major searches for him.

According to Leeson “The cadets from D Company scoured the district all weekend, threatening, beating, flogging and firing shotguns at the inhabitants.  Two men wound up in the county hospital after encounters with the police and Auxiliaries”. 

Notices are put up in Barna and Eyre Square in Galway saying that if Joyce is not returned “somebody would be made pay the penalty” – see Oct-16-20/5, Oct-19-20/4 and, especially, Oct-19-20/5. 

 

McNamara (2017), pg 617; McNamara (2018), pgs 145-146; Henry (2012), pgs 147-153; Leeson (2012), pg 48; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 195196

Oct-16-20/1

According to O’Farrell, F. Moy from Bridgend, Co. Donegal died on this day.  However, no other source confirms this death.

 

O'Farrell(1997), pg 114

Oct-16-20/2

Start of a strike by miners in Britain.  They were supposed to be joined by the railwaymen but this did not occur (perhaps due to the ‘moderate’ labour leader, J. H. Thomas).

In the run up to this strike, the BA in Ireland had, since August, to hold ten BA battalions in readiness to proceed to England at a few days’ notice.  This position held until the end of the strike – See Nov-04-20/3 – when these battalions reverted to normal duties.

According to the BA’s The Record of the Rebellion, the “loss of their activities for this period, though unavoidable, was a serious waste of valuable time”.

 

Roskill (1972), pg 190; Kautt (2014), pg 75

Oct-16-20/3

In disturbances following the eviction of a Catholic from his home in the Marrowbone area of North Belfast, two Protestants are killed in crossfire between the BA and nationalists. 

They are John Gibson (52 or 55) and William Mitchell (25).  Another Protestant, Matthew McMaster (34 or 39), is crushed by a BA armoured vehicle.

 

Parkinson (2004), pgs 95-96; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 195-196

Oct-16-20/4

The Irish Independent reports a statement issued by RC Bishop Morrisroe in the wake of the reprisals in Tubbercurry – see Sep-30-20/2.  He says that ‘bad government’ is primarily responsible but also said that the IRA had fostered “during the latter years ideals clearly impossible of attainment”.

 

Farry (2012), pg 59

Oct-16-20/5

Auxiliaries enter the Feeney home in Corofin, Co. Galway.  The four sons were taken outside, two are stripped and flogged.  Another is hit on the head with a gun butt and beaten – then all three are kicked while on the ground. 

Later this night, a Corofin publican, John Raftery, is also attacked.

 

Leeson (2012), pg 181

Oct-16-20/6

Patrick Moylett, a businessman, IRB member and gun runner for the IRA, reports back to Griffith on an informal conversation that he had with Herbert A. L. Fisher, Minister of Education in the British cabinet.  (This meeting was facilitated by John Steele, London correspondent of the Chicago Tribune.) 

Moylett reported that the British were putting out feelers for a settlement.

 

Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 324-325

Oct-17-20/1

James Lehane from Ballymakeera, Co Cork is shot and killed by Auxiliaries in Ballyvourney. 

According to Hart and O’Halpin & Ó Corráin, he was not an IRA Volunteer.  He may have been killed in a case of mistaken identity or it may have been killed due to indiscriminate shooting by the Auxiliaries.   

(Hart says October 17th but O’Halpin & Ó Corráin say October 15th.)

 

Hart (1998), pg 29; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 194

Oct-17-20/2

BA Commander in Chief in Ireland Macready writes to CIGS Wilson (to whom Macready’s memo to Greenwood of September 27th had been copied) in which he reiterates that, if the British Government is not prepared to declare martial law, then authorised punishments should be permitted such as destroying the houses in the vicinity of ambushes.

 

Kautt (2014), pg 93

Oct-17-20/3

Michael Fitzgerald (O/C 1st Battalion Cork No. 2 Brigade) dies in Cork Jail after 67 days on hunger strike.  He is buried in Kilcrumper.

According to Corbett, Michael Hennessey of Tullamore dies the following day after 67 days on hunger strike but O’Donoghue, Macardle and O’Halpin & Ó Corráin do not mention Hennessy.

 

O’Donoghue (1986), pg59; Macardle (1999), pg 391; Corbett (2008), pg 65; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 196

Oct-17-20/4

IRA man, Henry Kelly from Ballygawley, Co. Sligo, is killed as he tries to escape from a raid by Crown Forces on the Banba Hall, Rutland Sq (now Parnell Sq) in Dublin. 

A number of IRA men had gathered in the Hall in preparation for an attack on Crown Forces.  A bystander, Thomas O’Rourke, is shot during this incident and dies the next day.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 110; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 196-197

Oct-17-20/5

A number of BA soldiers take a motor launch from Athlone to search islands in Lough Ree for arms.  On their return, they are shot as they near the shore.  Full report of this incident given in Sheehan.

 

Sheehan (2009), pg 66 & 201-205

Oct-17-20/6

RIC Detective Sgt Daniel Roche, who had been brought to Dublin from Tipperary to identify the body of Sean Tracey, is shot and killed by the Squad at the corner of Capel St and Ormond Quay.  

The members of the Squad who did the shooting were Joe Dolan, Tom Keogh, and Jim Slattery. 

There are different accounts of who else was present from the IRA’s Squad and Intelligence Dept.  Possibly present, or in the vicinity, were Paddy O’Daly, Bill Stapleton, Vinny Byrne, Frank Thornton and Charlie Dalton.

Roche was pointed out to the Squad by David Neligan.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 134; O’Farrell (1997), pg 25; Dalton (1929), pgs 98-100; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 196; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 318-321

Oct-18-20/1

The IRA attack and capture the RIC barracks in Ruan, Co. Clare. 

More Detail

Abbott (2000), pg 135 & 312; Barrett in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 91-95; Ó Ruairc (2009), pgs 179-184; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 197

Oct-18-20/2

A civilian (and ex-BA soldier), Edward Turner, is shot and killed by BA soldiers in Mallow, Co. Cork after they shoot at a group of civilians. They allege that shots were fired at them.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 197

Oct-18-20/3

Corporal Richard Hinds of the BA’s SWB falls from a lorry in Clontarf in Dublin. This fall results in his death. 

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 197

Oct-19-20/1

Two brothers, who were IRA Volunteers from the 1st or 4th Battalion of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade, Eamonn or Edward [O’]Dwyer and Francis [O’]Dwyer, are shot dead in their homes by armed and masked men at Ballydavid, in the Glen of Aherlow at the foot of the Galtee Mountains and near Bansha, Co Tipperary. 

 

 

(Abbott says that the two brothers were killed in the Ragg, (aka Bouladuff) Co Tipperary but he is probably mistaken – it is likely that he mistook these killings for the killing of Thomas Dwyer – see Mar-30-20/4 and Jul-07-21/4.) 

 

Abbott (2000), pg 264; Ryan (1945), pgs 189-190; O’Farrell (1997), pg 31; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 198

Oct-19-20/2

Jack Fitzgerald and Mick O'Neill - two experienced IRA officers from Kilbrittain, Co Cork - are captured by the British.

 

Deasy (1973), pg 154

Oct-19-20/3

Ambush by IRA led by James Tormey at Faheran near Athlone.  Seamus O’Meara also in ambush party. 

See Oct-22-20/6.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 83

cOct-19-20/4

Around this time, men were taken from a public house in Turloughmore, Co Galway by Crown Forces and flogged. 

In the nearby villages of Corofin and Cummer, on consecutive nights, men are taken from their beds, stripped and flogged by the roadside. Possibly the work of Auxiliaries based in Galway.

See Oct-19-20/5.

 

McNamara (2018), pg 142

Oct-19-20/5

Michael Walsh, a well-known Sinn Féin Councilor, is arrested in his grocery and public house, the Old Malt House on High Street in Galway City, by men who were likely to be Auxiliaries.  He was taken to Long Walk where he was shot in the head and his body thrown into Galway Bay.

An assistant who was with Walsh, Martin or Patrick Meenaghan, is let go but told that he would be killed if he told what he had seen. The quite public nature of this killing was bringing the Auxiliaries campaign of terror in Galway to a new level. 

For their next actions, see Oct-21-20/2.

 

Gleeson (1962), pg 109; McNamara (2017), pg 618;  McNamara (2018), pg 149; Henry (2012), pgs 139-143; Leeson (2012), pg 49; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 197-198

Oct-20-20/1

In retaliation for an aborted attack on Frenchpark RIC station in Co. Roscommon on October 2nd (in which there were no casualties on either side), on this day the RIC attack the village of Ballinagare (where the IRA attacking party had assembled) and burn a number of houses.

During this attack, the RIC shoot dead IRA Volunteer Pat Doyle.  O’Callaghan says that he was shot in his bed but O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that he was taken outside and shot.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pgs 106; O’Callaghan (2012), pg 75; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 197

Oct-20-20/2

Irish Catholic bishops issue a pastoral saying that, if there were anarchy in Ireland, the Ministers of the British Government were its architects. 

They go on “Not by inhuman oppression will the Irish question be settled but by recognition of the indefeasible right of Ireland, as of every other nation, to choose the form of government under which its people are to live”.

 

Macardle (1999), pg 391; Mitchell (1995), pg 173

Oct-20-20/3

The deputy leader of the British Labour Party, Arthur Henderson, introduces a motion in the British House of Commons which “regrets the presents state of lawlessness in Ireland and the lack of discipline of armed forces of the Crown, resulting in the death or injury of innocent citizens and the destruction of property”.  The motion goes on to demand an independent inquiry in reprisals by Crown Forces in Ireland. 

In answering questions about the reprisals by Crown Forces, Greenwood deals with both Balbriggan, Co. Dublin (see Sep-20-20/1) and Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo (see Sep-30-20/2).  Referring to Balbriggan, Greenwood says “I cannot in my heart of hearts … it may be right or it may be wrong – I cannot condemn in the same way the policemen who lost their heads as I condemn the assassins who provoked this outrage”. 

With regards to Tubbercurry, Greenwood says that he had “never seen a tittle of evidence” that any creamery had been destroyed by Crown Forces.  (They had destroyed two in the Tubbercurry reprisal and, at least, four others in previous reprisals – See Aug-26-20/2; Aug-22-20/3; May-27 to 28-20/1 and Sep-27-20/7.). 

He did admit that there had been a reprisal in Tubbercurry but said that it was because the Crown Forces “saw red” on seeing the body of DI Brady.  “They knew him.  They loved him.  Soldiers and policemen trained under the British flag love their officers.  They love them so much that they go to their death for them”. 

Unfortunately, Greenwood did not explain why loving their officers so much gave members of the Crown Forces the right to take their anger out on innocent Irish civilians and their property. 

The Labour motion is defeated by 346 to 79. Subsequently, the Labour Party prepares to set up its own commission into the state of affairs in Ireland.  See Nov-11-20/1 and Nov-30-20/3.

 

Greenwood also said that there was “a highly organised Propaganda Department connected with the Irish Republican Movement … and everything that can be said, regardless of fact, to smirch the name of the United Kingdom and of the British Empire … is said by this Propaganda Department”.

 

Townshend (2014), pgs 166-167; Boyce (1972), pgs 61-62 & 83-84

Oct-20-20/4

Kevin Barry is charged with the murder of Private Marshall Whitehead at a court martial held in Marlborough Barracks (now McKee Barracks) in Dublin.   See Oct-27-20/1.

Carey (2001), pgs 18-27; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 178; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 325-326

Oct-20-20/5

De Valera sends President Wilson a formal request for the U.S. to recognise the Republic of Ireland as a sovereign independent state.

 

Macardle (1999), pg 409

Oct-21-20/1

Patrick Moylett (see Oct-15-20/6), a London-based Irish businessman and a contact of Arthur Griffith, gets in touch with Brigadier General Cockerill (see Oct-08-20/4) and tells him to relay to Lloyd George that he could have peace 'whenever he wished' on the basis of Cockerill's letter. 

Moylett meets a person from the Foreign Office and a letter from Griffith is relayed to Lloyd George but nothing comes of this initiative. See Nov-22-20/3.

For detail on this initiative, see Fanning.

 

Coogan (1990), pg 186; Macardle (1999), pg 413; Fanning (2013), pgs 242-244; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 329 -330

Oct-21-20/2

Crown Forces arrive at the house of Roger Furey in Gurran, Oranmore, Co. Galway.  They take his two sons outside for questioning – during which one of the sons, Michael, is shot in the leg. 

Next they raid the house of Roger Furey’s brother, Thomas Furey, where his three sons are questioned and beaten.  Next they raid the home of Martin King where they smash all the windows and beat up his two sons.  (Henry says October 21st but Leeson says the night of October 14th/15th.)

See Oct-24-20/2.

 

Henry (2012), pg 134; Leeson (2012), pg 165

Oct-21-20/3

British Military raid the house of Charles Lynch near Milton Malbay, Co. Clare.  He is shot through the heart by a British soldier, Lance Corporal McPhearson or McPherson of the BA’s Royal Scots and died immediately. 

See Oct-30-20/4.

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg 111; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 185; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 198

Oct-21-20/4

In the Daily News, Hugh Martin wrote about the Auxiliaries habit of “whipping, kicking and otherwise instructing [young men] in the elements of British citizenship”.

 

Townshend (2014), pg 169

Oct-21-20/5

Three RIC men are ambushed at Glandore, Co Cork - two of them (Constable Bertie Rippengale and Constable Albert Rundle) subsequently die from their wounds. 

Both Constables are from England and had three months’ service with the RIC.

.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 135; Abbott (2019), pg 171; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 199 & 213

Oct-21-20/6

Travelling on his motorcycle, Michael Dwyer is hit from behind by a BA lorry near Baldonnell Aerodrome in Co. Dublin.  He dies soon afterwards.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 198

Oct-22-20/1

The local hall in Aughavas, Co.  Leitrim is burnt down by Crown Forces.  In the weeks to come, they burn down halls in Annaduff, Fenagh, Gorvagh, Gowel and Ballinamore – all in Co. Leitrim.

 

McGarty (2020), pg 88

Oct-22-20/2

The Times of London reports that the Cambridge Union Society carried a motion condemning the British government’s actions in Ireland by 98 votes.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 81

Oct-22-20/3

The Cork Constitution reports that the Mayor of Wexford got a notice from the Anti-Sinn Féin Society, Wexford Branch warning of severe reprisals against Sinn Féin supporters in the event of the shooting or wounding of ‘Government officials’.

 

Borgonovo (2007), pg 7

Oct-22-20/4

IRA Volunteer James Power is wounded in a raid on the home of RIC Constable Cullen or Cullinane in Kill, Co. Waterford and dies from his wounds three days later.

McCarthy (2015), pg 75; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 202-203

Oct-22-20/5

Three RIC lorries are ambushed at Parkwood, Clara, Co. Offaly.  The driver of one of the lorries (Constable Harry Biggs) is killed.

The ambush carried was out by newly formed flying column of the Athlone Battalion IRA led by James Tormey. George Adamson also took part in the ambush. 

The ambush leads to reprisals by the RIC in the villages of Moate, Horseleap, Killbeggan and in Athlone.  A number of civilians are wounded and one, Michael Burke (a former Irish Parliamentary Party urban councillor) is killed in Athlone by Crown Forces.

Constable Biggs was from London and had two months’ service with the RIC.

See Nov-02-21/1.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 135; Sheehan (2017), pg 359;

O’Farrell (1997), pg 103; Abbott (2019), pgs 171-172; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 199 & 204

Oct-22-20/6

Dublin Castle issue an order – under the Special Constabulary Ireland Acts of 1832 and 1914 – that a Special Constabulary was to be created.  Theoretically from loyalists all over Ireland but they appear only in Ulster.  Recruitment begins in Belfast on November 1st – see Nov-01-20/7. 

More Detail and Discussion

 

Townshend (1975), pg 124; Abbott (2000), pgs 141-147; Hopkinson 2002, pg 159; Parkinson (2004), pgs 83-90; Grant (2018), pgs 104-104; McCluskey (2014), pg 92; Abbott (2019), pgs 179-187; Parksinson (2020), pgs 64-67

Oct-23-20/1

Writing to Wilson, Macready says that “no-one with the interests of the Army at heart can for a moment approve of reprisal”.

Sheehan (2017), pg 40

Oct-23-20/2

Writing to Churchill, Wilson lists 12 colonels and 21 majors and captains in the BA who did not want to serve in Ireland.

He also argued that, the “obvious course of action” to quell the rebellion in Ireland was, when there was a killing of a member of the Crown Forces “to at once arrest the principal members of the IRA in a town or village, and give them twenty-four hours to produce the murderer on pain of being shot themselves”.  Wilson does not say how he proposes to identify “the principal members of the IRA in a town or village”.

Sheehan claims that Wilson was “venting” but he is being too kind to Wilson. For other examples of when Wilson called for official killings – See May-11-20/2; May-23-20/1; July-1920/1 and Sep-28-20/5. 

It is quite obvious that Wilson’s preferred method to putting down the rebellion in Ireland was as he outlined to Churchill.  What he wanted was official British cabinet sanction to carry out his proposed ‘shoot by roster’ method (rather than the unofficial reprisal killings then being carried out by sections of Crown Forces).

 

Sheehan (2017), pgs 50 & 105

Oct-23-20/3

Edward Meade is passing a lorry full of BA soldiers at Victoria Barracks in Cork City when a soldier’s rifle accidently discharges killing Meade.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 199

Oct-23-20/4

Perhaps influenced by Terence MacSwiney’s on-going hunger strike, W. B. Yeats decides to publish his poem ‘Easter 1916’ on this day in the New Statesman. (It had been written four years earlier.)  Referring to some of the leaders of the 1916 Rebellion, Yeats writes:

“Now and in time to be,

Wherever green is worn,

Are changed, changed utterly:

 

A terrible beauty is born.”

 

See Oct-25-20/1 and Nov-01-20/5.

 

 

Oct-23-20/5

James McCormack is serving in Farrell’s fish and chip shop in North Brunswick St in Dublin when two men enter and shoot him in the chest.  He dies early the following morning.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 199-200

Oct-24-20/1

Tureen Ambush

An ambush is carried out by men from the Cork No. 3 Brigade, IRA on two British Army lorries at Tureen on the Innishannon-Ballinhassig road in Co. Cork.  Deasy says this ambush took place on October 24th and four BA soldiers are killed (including Capt Dixon) with four others wounded.  He also says that 8 rifles, 1 revolver and 200 rounds of ammunition captured. 

Deasy says that the ambush was led by Brigade O/C Charlie Hurley with sections led by himself (Liam Deasy) and Tom Barry. (O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that it was led by Tom Barry.)

Barry disputes aspects of Deasy’s account of what happened at Tureen (or Toureen) saying, for example, that 5 British army killed and that 14 rifles, 1,400 rounds of ammunition and a number of Mills bombs were captured.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that three BA soldiers died as a result of the ambush. They say that Lieutenant William Dixon (Suffolk Regimet) and Private William Reid (Essex Regiment) died on the spot and Sgt Thomas Bennett (RASC) dies from his wounds the next day. They also say that the IRA were led by Tom Barry. 

Barry's editor say that the ambush took place on October 22nd as does O’Halpin & Ó Corráin and Sheehan.

 

Deasy (1973), pgs 155-157; Barry (1999), pgs 28-33;  Barry (1974), pgs 9-12; Sheehan (2017), pgs 120-121; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 198-199

Oct-24-20/2

Four partially disguised RIC men enter Thomas Egan’s bar and grocery at Coshla near Athenry, Co. Galway and shoot him dead. It would seem that Egan had no involvement in politics.

O’Farrell (1997), pg 107; McNamara (2018), pg 149; Henry (2012), pgs134-136; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 200

Oct-24-20/3

Michael Ryan of Curraghduff, Co Tipperary and 15 or 18-year-old Willie Gleeson of Moher, Co Tipperary are shot dead by armed men who said they were from the English secret service.

However, Margaret Ryan (sister of Michael Ryan) said that the killers spoke with the usual Irish accents. Jim Leahy, O/C Tipperary No. 2 Brigade, IRA described the raiders as the Thurles police Murder Gang.

 

Gleeson (1962), pg 109; Lesson (2012), pg 196; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 200

Oct-25-20/1

Terence MacSwiney (Lord Mayor of Cork and Commandant of the Cork No.1 Brigade IRA) dies on hunger strike in Brixton prison - he had been on hunger strike since August 12th – some 74 days.  His hunger strike, death and funeral receive world-wide publicity.

His death is followed by that of Joe Murphy who had been on hunger strike in Cork Prison for 76 days. He was a Volunteer with the 2nd Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade, IRA.  Arthur Griffith subsequently suspends the policy of hunger striking. 

The BA claim that after the death of MacSwiney “In Dublin a further deterioration of the IRA moral was noticeable”. 

MacSwiney is replaced by Sean O'Hegarty as O/C Cork No. 1 Brigade.

 

Townshend (1975), pg 122; Hart (1998), pg 85 & O'Kelly in The Kerryman (1955), pg 26; Townshend (2014), pgs 193-196; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 200-202; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 326-329; Kautt (2014), pgs 73-74; Sheehan (2007), pg 26; Corbett (2008), pg 65

Oct-25-20/2

The 4th Battalion, Fermanagh Brigade of the IRA raid the RIC barracks at Tempo, Co. Fermanagh with the help of RIC men including Constable Hugh O’Donnell.  It results in the death of one RIC man (Sgt Wilfred Lucas). 

The raid was planned by Bernard Conway (an ex-RIC man – see Jun-17-20/1) and authorised by Frank Carney, O/C Fermanagh Brigade IRA.  Conway persuaded Constable O’Donnell to help in the plan.  An RIC patrol from Tempo Barracks was captured and held during the raid.  The IRA then entered the barracks by an open back door.  However, Sgt Lucas is shot and this alerts loyalists in a local parish hall who arm themselves and come to the assistance of the RIC.  The attackers withdraw but with only a few rifles from the barracks.

Subsequently, a local Republican (Philip Breen who had not taken part in the raid) is shot and killed in the doorway of his family’s public house.  He was killed by either the RIC or UVF, probably the UVF.  Another man (John Bogue) was wounded.

 

Abbott (2000), pgs 136-137; Lawlor (2011), pgs 74-75; Abbott (2019), pgs 172-173; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 201-202 & 212

Oct-25-20/3

Michael Flynn from Glanidan, Collinstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath dies in Mountjoy Prison from “exposure in open lorry and bad treatment from RIC” after he was arrested.  It is not clear if he was a member of the IRA. 

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg 108; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 202

Oct-25-20/4

At Moneygold eight miles from Sligo Town (between Grange and Cliffony in Co. Sligo), an IRA party of about 40 men ambush an eight or nine-man RIC cycle patrol, killing four (Sgt Patrick Perry, Constable Patrick Keown, Constable Patrick Laffey and Constable Patrick Lynch) and wounding two others (Constables Clarke and O’Rourke).

The IRA was led by Sligo Brigade O/C William (Liam) Pilkington and Seamus Devins.  The rest of the RIC surrendered and a nurse, Linda Kearns, attended some of the wounded.  The IRA capture the RIC men’s weapons – see Oct-31-20/13

There were no immediate reprisals but a few days later Auxiliaries arrived in the area.  They burn a Sinn Féin hall and, at least, 12 houses, pointed out to them by Irish members of the RIC (See Apr-19-21/5). The Auxiliaries also burn a pub, a shop, two halls and Ballintrillick creamery.  The reprisals went on for almost a week.

The coffins of the dead RIC men carried a banner stating: “Sinn Féin victory. Three widows and 17 orphans”.

 

Hopkinson (2002), pg 136; Abbott (2000), pgs 138-139; Farry (2012), pg 60; Lesson (2012), pg 160; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 201-202

Oct-25-20/5

A group of young men are fired on by the RIC for ‘failing to halt’ at Clare, Co. Offaly.  Liam Dignam is wounded and dies on March 21st 1921. 

Dignam was O/C 1st Clara Battalion, Offaly No. 2 Brigade, IRA.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 352

Oct-25-20/6

In disturbances in the Short Strand area of Belfast, Joseph McLeod, a Protestant received gunshot wounds to the head from a Catholic gunman (Henry McGraw). He dies from his wounds. 

Parkinson (2004), pg 96; McDermott (2001), pg 65; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 201

Oct-25-20/7

The Times of London states that “the debates in this session [of the British parliament] have made it abundantly clear that [the government’s] hopes of an Irish settlement, if in truth, they entertain any, rest upon the struggle with the Irish Volunteers and not upon the perfunctory labours of the House of Commons”.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 119

Oct-26-20/1

Henry Moore is shot dead outside Victoria RIC Barracks in Derry City for failing to halt.

O’Farrell (1997), pg 113; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 203

Oct-26-20/2

Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Carberry, from 8 Vicar St., off Thomas St in Dublin, is seen in a laneway off Dame St with a soldier late at night.  It is reported that they were fighting.

In the early morning, after the sounds of a scuffle, the soldier runs off leaving his cap badge behind.  The DMP are summoned and Carberry is found dead with her body showing many bruises.  She had died from suffocation. 

Lance Corporal Alfred Hadley of the BA’s King’s Own Lancashire Regiment was tried by court martial in January 1921.  The court dismissed the charges on the basis of insufficient evidence without even hearing Hadley’s defence.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 203

Oct-26-20/3

According to O’Farrell, F. Dougan from Co. Armagh dies on this date.  No other source confirms this death.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 106

Oct-27-20/1

Kevin Barry informed that he will be hung on November 1st. 

The Governor of Mountjoy Prison (Munro) receives an order from General Macready C-in-C of British Army in Ireland telling him to carry out the sentence. 

See Oct-28-20/2.

Carey (2001), pgs 27-28

Oct-27-20/2

Michael Scanlon, O/C 1st or 4th (Kilmallock) Battalion, East Limerick Brigade is shot dead when trying to escape in Limerick City. 

Unlike many other cases when Crown Forces shot a prisoner ‘trying to escape’, it would seem that Scanlon was actually trying to escape. (Regan gives a short account.)

O’Farrell (1997), pg 93; Regan (2007), pg 163; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 204; O’Farrell (1997), pg 118; O’Malley (1990), pg 311

Oct-27-20/3

Purcell Bowen, who was either a current or former BA officer, is shot late at night in a laneway off Lincoln Place in Dublin.  His body is found the following morning. 

He had come to Dublin in June 1920 and stayed at 28 Upper Fitzwilliam St.  He said that he was an agent for a Welsh coal firm.  He may have been shot as a suspected British intelligence officer.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 204-205

Oct-27-20/4

Captain John Sherlock, 1st Battalion, Fingal Brigade, IRA is taken from his home at 7 Cabra Terrace, Skerries, Co. Dublin by the RIC, brought to a nearby field and shot five times.  His father finds his body in a ditch. 

There would not seem to be any previous incident in the immediate past which precipitated this targeted killing by the RIC.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 118; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 203-204

Oct-28-20/1

The newly-formed Number 1 Flying Column of the South Tipperary Brigade, under Dinny Lacey, ambush a lorry containing BA soldiers at Thomastown - three soldiers killed (Private T. Crummey or Crummy and Private Frank A. Short of the BA’s Northhamptonshire Regiment and Lance-Corporal William Hobbs of the BA’s Royal Engineers) and five wounded.  One IRA man (Michael Fitzgerald) is also badly wounded but eventually recovers.

They were expecting an RIC tender but the BA’s lorry came unexpectedly.  Fitzgerald was Adjutant of the column and Paddy Horan was I/O.  Other IRA men present were Jim Gorman, Brian Shanahan, Jack Tierney, Jim Bishop and Rody Hanley.

Houses are burnt in reprisal by Crown Forces in Tipperary Town after the ambush.

 

Ryan (1945), pg 190;  Delaney in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 95-101; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 205

Oct-28-20/2

Kevin Barry makes a sworn statement about his mal-treatment by the British Army. 

Carey comments "Although brutal, the treatment was mild compared to that meted out to other members of the IRA who had been captured.  One reason for this was that Barry was captured by normal British military - he would have fared considerably worse if he had been caught by the Black and Tans or the Auxiliaries." 

Townshend says that “It is hardly surprising that Barry was roughly treated by the unit that he had attacked, and he certainly suffered a strained arm”. 

See cOct-29-20/1.

 

Carey (2001), pg 28; Townshend (2014), pg 197

Oct-28-20/3

6th Battalion, East Clare Brigade, IRA kill Martin Counihan as an alleged spy near Bodyke, Co. Clare. 

Four houses in the area are burnt in reprisals carried out by the Crown Forces including the home of Thomas Tuohy, Vice O/C, 6th Battalion.

Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 186-187; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 203; Mac Conmara (2021), pgs 124-130

cOct-29-20/1

In an address to the 'Civilised Nations' on the forthcoming hanging of Kevin Barry, Arthur Griffith pointed out that British forces captured by the IRA had been released (including 25 English soldiers captured during the Kings Inn raid on June 1st in which Barry had taken part). 

See Oct-30-20/1.

 

Carey (2001), pgs 36-37

Oct-29-20/2

James Treacy, a 61-year old farmer from Meenross outside Scariff, Co. Clare dies.  Officially he is recorded as dying from carcinoma of the stomach but a few weeks earlier he had been badly manhandled and thrown out of his sick bed by Crown Forces searching his cottage.

 

Mac Conmara (2021), pg 130

Oct-29-20/3

Speaking in the British House of Commons, Greenwood says that “The best and surest way to stop reprisals is to stop the murder of policemen, soldiers and loyal citizens”.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 55

Oct-29-20/4

An ex-British soldier, Frank McGinty, is badly beaten and pistol whipped by the IRA in Shraigh, Co. Mayo. 

Four men (David and Michael Henry, Patrick Reilly and Patrick Heneghan) are arrested and found guilty of wounding with intent.

 

Price (2012), pg 100

cOct-29-20/2

Two British Army officers, Lieutenant Bernard Brown and Lieutenant David Rutherford, are captured by men from Coachford Company, 7th (Macroom) Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade, IRA as they travel (in civilian clothing) from Fermoy to Killarney.  They are shot as spies.  They were probably on intelligence work.

 

Borgonovo (2007), pg 20; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 206; Sheehan (2017), pg 74

Oct-29-20/3

In a memo on the Irish Situation, Walter Long says “The demand for Dominion Home Rule is one cannot, I submit, be seriously regarded, for the simple reason that it is impossible to grant it unless we are prepared to go the whole length and accept the inevitable conclusion, namely practical, if not legal independence”.

In the Times of London on December 3rd, Bonar Law dismisses Dominion Home Rule as “not a new policy but a new catchword”.

 

Boyce (1972), pg 126

Oct-29-20/4

Notices appear in Buncrana, Co. Donegal which include “if any harm whatever comes to any member of HM forces … five of the prominent Sinn Féiners in this locality will be shot. Balbriggan and Trim will be sufficient warning to the sober mind”.  On the previous day, the houses belonging to Sinn Féin members had been painted with the numbers one to five.

 

Ó Duibhir (2009), pg 187; Leeson (2012), pgs 173-174

Oct-29-20/5

70-year-old Francis Warren is shot dead by three men who entered his home in Hollybrook in Inchicore, Dublin.  He may have been shot for giving information on a local IRA arms dump in December 1919.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 205

Oct-29-20/6

Ex-BA soldier Geoffrey Jasper from Shropshire in England was taken from a train in Tralee, Co. Kerry in late September by men from the 1st Battalion, Kerry No. 1 Brigade, IRA. 

He had joined the RIC on June 29th but had been dismissed on August 29th.  The IRA held him for about five weeks before executing him.

The IRA believed that he was carrying out intelligence work.  He was buried at either Carrahane Strand or Banna Strand near Ardfert, Co. Kerry. Jasper may have been involved in the killing of Patrick Kennedy on August 19th – see Aug-19-20/5.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 205-206

Oct-30-20/1

Irish Bulletin publishes Kevin Barry’s account of his torture. (O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that Barry’s account of his ‘torture’ was very measured.) 

Also published is Griffith’s address to the ‘Civilised Nations’ saying that his execution would be an “outrage against the law and customs of nations”. 

See Nov-01-20/1.

 

Gallagher (1953), pgs 105-106; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 209-210

Oct-30-20/2

 

A five-man RIC patrol is ambushed at Castledaly, Co. Galway (between Kilchreest and Peterswell on the road between Loughrea and Gort) resulting in the death of one RIC man (Constable Timothy Horan). 

The 25-man attacking party were led by Thomas McInerney.  They released the remaining RIC men after relieving them of their rifles. (Patrick Loughnane took part in the ambush – see Nov-26-20/3.)

This ambush is followed by RIC reprisals in the district including the burning of three to five houses.  Unusually, the burning of these houses is described in the official Register of Crime for the Province of Connaught as a reprisal for the killing of Constable Horan.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 139; McNamara (2018), pg 124; Lesson (2012), pg 158; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 206-207

Oct-30-20/3

In his report to the Irish Situation Committee of the British Cabinet, Macready deals with the MacSwiney funeral, the railway situation and the forthcoming Barry hanging.  He says "It would be a good thing if some person in authority in England would explain publicly that this man [Barry] was conclusively proved to have shot a soldier with an expanding bullet".

 

Carey (2001), pg 33

Oct-30-20/4

Two BA soldiers, Corporal McPherson and Private G. Robertson of the Royal Scots, are captured by the IRA in the Connolly district of Co. Clare.  (They may have deserted.)

McPherson escapes but Robertson is executed.  McPherson was suspected of having killed Charles Lynch on October 21st – See Oct-21-20/3.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 207

Oct-30-20/5

In the IRA’s Weekly Memorandum No. 5, it was noted that resignations from the RIC continued unabated and “in very many cases these were stated to be brought about by pressure exerted by their relatives at home” – it went on that the old RIC had become “pointers” for the Black and Tans and “None of his friends or relatives must be allowed to forget this to him.  They cannot of course be held responsible for him and must not therefore be actually boycotted, but they must bear his shame”.

 

Hughes (2016), pg 27

Oct-31-20/1

RIC District Inspector Philip Kelleher is shot dead in the bar of the Grenville Arms Hotel, Granard, Co Longford while in the company of members of the North Longford executive of Sinn Féin. It was claimed that Kelleher was sent to Longford with orders to “take action against the IRA and clean up the area”. 

The killing of DI Kelleher leads to reprisals in Granard. A column of RIC and British military arrives in Granard from Longford and many buildings are set alight by men from this column.  

According to the Manchester Guardian “Houses and shops were selected for destruction according to the politics of the owners and the work of burning carried out expeditiously by the use of petrol”.

Permission had been sought and received from IRA GHQ to carry out the shooting of DI Kelleher.

 

Hopkinson (2002), pg 142; MacEoin in The Kerryman (1955), pg 103; Abbott (2000), pg 140; Coleman (2003), pg 123; Leeson (2012), pg 174; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 207; Hopkinson (2002), pg 80

Oct-31-20/2

RIC Sgt Henry Cronin is shot outside his home in Henry St., Tullamore, Co. Offaly - he dies the next day.

Reprisals follow. The local Sinn Féin club was wrecked; the printing presses of the King’s County Independent were ruined; the T&GWU hall was demolished; the cinema was bombed and burnt and several houses and businesses were destroyed.  According to the Manchester Guardian, the RIC riot was “a tour of Sinn Feiners’ houses”.

 

Abbott (2000), pg 140; Leeson (2012), pg 170 & 172 & 174; Abbott (2000), pg 209; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 209

 

Oct-31-20/3

Two RIC men (Constable Albert Caseley and Constable Herbert Evans) are shot dead at Hillville, Co. Kerry (outside Killorglin) by men from Kerry No. 2, Brigade, IRA including Dan Allman from Rockfield. 

Reprisals followed in Killorglin during which the Sinn Féin Hall, the creamery, a timber mill, a garage and a number of homes were burnt.  One man, Denis M. O’Sullivan, was taken from his home and shot four times (but survived). There were further retaliations in the village of Milltown the following night including the burning of Listry Creamery.

Two other RIC men (Constable Ernst Bright and Constable Patrick Waters) are reported missing.  They were kidnapped in New Street in Tralee, Co. Kerry. They were subsequently executed and buried secretly near the beach at Blennerville.  (They were not thrown alive into the furnace in Tralee Gas Works as subsequently rumoured).  Posters appear in Tralee threatening reprisals if the two RIC men are not returned. 

In the aftermath of these killings, and the killing of three RIC men in Ballyduff the same day (see Oct-31-20/4), the RIC blockade the town of Tralee for five days and took widespread reprisals.  In particular, they set fire to the business premises of known supporters of Sinn Féin.  Also, John Conway is killed by the RIC on New St, Tralee.   Tommy Wall is arrested by the RIC, told to run and, when he does so, is shot in the back.  He dies on November 3rd.

Known as the Siege of Tralee.

 

Constable Evans was from Belfast and Constable Caseley was from Kent in England.  Both had were members of the RIC for a matter of months. Constable Bright was from London and had joined the RIC in July 1920. Constable Waters was from Galway.

 

Abbott (2000), pgs 140-141 & 311 & 313; Abbott (2019), pgs 178 & 398 & 401; Leeson (2012), pg 150 & 170-171 & 174; Townshend (1975), pg 125; Hopkinson (2002), pg 125; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 207-210 & 212; Hopkinson (2002), pg 80; Macardle (1999), pg 394; O’Farrell (1997), pg 104; O’Shea (2021), pgs 54-63

Oct-31-20/4

The North Kerry IRA attack the RIC barracks and a patrol in the village of Ballyduff, Co. Kerry.  It results in the death of three RIC men (Constable Robert Gorbey, Constable William Madden and Constable George Morgan). 

In the following days, there are major reprisals by the RIC.  IRA Volunteer John Houlihan from Ballyduff was dragged from his home by the RIC, shot and bayoneted.  His parents are forced to watch. 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that Constables Gorbey and Madden were attacked in Abbeydorney on October 31st and that Morgan was killed in a separate attack in Ballyduff on November 1st (when two other constables – Dolan and Reidy – are wounded but survive). 

 

Abbott (2000), pg 141; O’Farrell (1997), pg 109; Horgan (2018), pgs 207-208; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 207 - 208 & 210 & 214

Oct-31-20/5

At a brigade council of the Cork No. 3 Brigade, held at Copeen, a decision is made to form a brigade flying column (in addition to existing battalion columns).  Tom Barry is appointed Column Commander and it decided that it should be based at Togher (north-west of Dunmanway). 

A third week long training camp also starts in Kealkil.  (The first was in late September – see Sep-26-20/2 and there had been a second in early October.) 

 

Deasy (1973), pgs 158-159

 

Oct-31-20/6

The funeral of Terence MacSwiney takes place in Cork City with massive crowds attending.  The Dáil declares a national day of mourning.  The funeral receives worldwide publicity.

 

McCluskey (2014), pg 94; Townshend (2014), pg 195

Oct-31-20/7

An RIC man, Constable Martin Hoban, is wounded in an ambush in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. This results in widespread retaliation by the RIC and loyalists on the nationalist areas of the town.

 

McCluskey (2014), pg 94

Oct-31-20/8

Under-Secretary James McMahon requests the Viceroy, Lord French that Kevin Barry be reprieved.  The following day, French declines.

 

 

Oct-31-20/9

After an ambush by the IRA near Killybegs, Co. Donegal, there is, what the Derry Journal describes as a “night of terror” in Killybegs and “uniformed men paraded the streets, firing indiscriminately”.

 

Ozseker (2019), pg 119

Oct-31-20/10

Tommy Donovan (O/C 7th (Drangan) Battalion, 3rd Tipperary Brigade, IRA is killed in action at Glengoole, Killenaule, Co. Tipperary.

O’Farrell (1997), pg 29; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 208

Oct-31-20/11

Austen Chamberlain, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, writing to his sister, Hilda, says that it was a fact “reprisals have secured the safety of the police in places where they were previously shot down like vermin” and that they had led to people giving information to the RIC “again and again of ambushes and the like”. 

He went on to say that the British government “is getting the murder gang on the run by degrees”.

 

Townshend (2014), pg 164; Boyce (1972), pg 55

Oct-31-20/12

RIC Constable James Mulvey dies in Bruff, Co. Limerick due to exposure and heart attack.

 

Abbott (2019), pg 411

Oct-31-20/13

Three IRA leaders in Sligo (Seamus Devins, Eugene Gilbride and Andrew Conway) are captured when the car they are in (driven by Linda Kearns) runs into a convoy of RIC and military.

They are carrying arms captured at the Moneygold ambush (see Oct-25-20/4).  They are badly beaten but they cannot be convicted of participating in the Moneygold ambush as nobody (including surviving RIC men) will identify them as being present.

The volume of the official BA Record of the Rebellion dealing with intelligence says that information that the IRA were moving the arms came from an informer.  It also details the arms re-captured (ten service rifles, six revolvers and 420 rounds of ammunition) and records that Kearns was sentenced to ten years of penal servitude.

Farry comments “North Sligo IRA never recovered from the arrests and arms seizures by Crown forces in 1920”.

 

Farry (2012), pgs 60-61; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 201; Hart (2002), pgs 76-77; Farry (2012), pg 67

Oct-31-20/14

Nineteen-year old James Donaldson is accidently shot through the heart as he examines a revolver with a neighbour (said to be a fellow UVF man) in Monaghan.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 208

Oct-1920/1

The 5th Division of the BA in Ireland start a three-day course called the “5th Division Guerrilla Warfare Class” in the Curragh in Co. Kildare.

Over the coming period, ten courses were held attended by 280 officers and NCOs of the BA and 125 RIC men (including Auxiliaries). 

After BA reinforcements arrived in January 1921, another 500 officers and NCOs were given this course.

 

Sheehan (2009), pgs 129-130

Oct-1920/2

In his monthly report for October, the RIC County Inspector for Donegal, when commenting on the a British army decision to remove attachments at Killybegs, Ardara, Glenties and Dungloe, said that these withdrawals meant that the RIC had to evacuate the Dungloe district and that the RIC barracks in Ardara had to be closed with the RIC being concentrated into Killybegs, Glenties and Falcarragh leaving “practically no control over a greater part of the county (including the coast)”.

 

Ozseker (2019), pg 120

Oct-1920/3

Local general strike in Monaghan by labourers and carters results in improved pay conditions for the workers.

 

O’Drisceoil (2001), pg 15

Oct-1920/4

Raids by the British forces, which had been curtailed in May by the new incoming commanders, were now being resumed in full force and running at 10 a day in Dublin alone.

 

Townshend (1975), pg 127

Oct-1920/5

In his monthly report for October, RIC County Inspector for Mayo, David Steadman, says “Sinn Féiners never counted on it being possible that reprisals would ever overtake them and they have become much exercised in mind and body at the very suggestion of the application to themselves of a little bit of their own ointment.  … A healthy sign of the times is that the dread of reprisals in the event of anything untoward happening in their locality is making people generally exercise their influence to prevent anything occurring in their midst that would likely bring such in their train.  This is a rather novel feature of Irish psychology”.  (Streadman was a Scottish Presbyterian.)  He also said that if reprisals were “quietly and systematically continued” then the process “would knock the bottom out of the Sinn Féin movement in a short time”.

Hart says that “by late 1920 elements in the [British] security forces were mounting a parallel underground effort to terrorize the republican movement and its supporters into submission.  To what extent this was a spontaneous development tolerated from above, or a secret strategy directed from London, is unclear. What is clear is that ‘intelligence’ encompassed political murders and death squads on both sides.”

 

Price (2012), pgs 14 & 99; Townshend (2014), pg 164; Hart (2002), pg 15

Oct-1920/6

 

 

 

At the end of October, a bulletin from the Lisburn, Co. Antrim branch of the Anti-Sinn Féin Society says “A fair warning to Sinn Féiners and sympathizers: Lisburn will not claim and eye for an eye but three or more lives for either the murder of or injury to any member of the Royal Irish Constabulary or Auxiliary Forces”.

 

Borgonovo (2007), pgs 7-8

Oct-1920/7

British army strength in Ireland 55,800 at this point.

 

Sheehan W. (2017), pg 365

Oct-1920/8

At the end of October, Cork No. 2 Brigade Column was disbanded and it was decided that each Battalion should build its own column.

 

O’Donoghue (1986), pg103

 

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