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In Fermoy, Ireland |
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Continued - Page Two THE FERMOY LOOTING The reaction of the British to this attack was to run riot in the town on the same evening, smashing windows and looting a number of shops. The British unit engaged was the East Kent Regiment known as "the Buffs". With Liam Lynch on the run and able to devote himself whole time to the brigade organisation, the efficiency of the brigade developed. Brigade headquarters was now established at Glenville, about nine miles south-west of Fermoy, although all correspondence still came to me in Fermoy, but I visited the O/C two or three times per week for discussions, etc. It was at about this time that the Brigade Vice-Commandant, Hegarty, became ill and I succeeded him as Brigade Vice-Commandant. Maurice Twomey, the Adjutant of the Fermoy Battalion, succeeded me as Brigade Adjutant. Early in March, 1919, Aghern Police Barracks was attacked, but as the explosives were unsatisfactory, this attack proved unsuccessful. It was during this month that the British received information connecting me with the Fermoy attack and for about four weeks I wnt partly on the run by not sleeping at home. On 1st April, I was surprised on a visit to my parents' home and arrested by combined forces of police and military. Receiving permission from the officer in charge to go upstairs to collect some clothes, I slipped into a corner bedroom, locked the door from the inside and jumped out a side window and got clear away. I immediately joined Lynch and we set up Brigade headquarters at Burnfort, near Mallow. From here, as a result of enemy activity, we moved to Lombardstown, six miles west of Mallow, about a month later. MICHAEL FITZGERALD ON HUNGER STRIKE At this time, Michael Fitzgerald, who was O/C of the Fermoy Battallion was in Cork jail, having been arrested for his connection with the Fermoy attack. He was on a hunger strike as a protest against his detention without trial for many weeks. Realising that Fitzgerald would probably die as a result of hunger-strike, the brigade decided to capture the most senior of the British officers in Fermoy and to hold him as a hostage for Fitzgerald. A close watch was kept on the movements of the senior officers of the British garrison in Fermoy by local Volunteer Intelligence officers. Daily, and even more frequently, intelligence reports were made to the Brigade by those officers. Eventually a report was received that the O/C of Fermoy, General Lucas, with two other officers, had left the barracks one morning in June for a day's fishing up the River Blackwater, east of the town, with only the General's personal servant as escort. We appreciated the opportunity thus offered, and plans were immediately made to carry out the capture of these officers. CAPTURE OF GENERAL LUCAS Liam Lynch, Sean Moylan, Patrick Clancy and I (George Power) proceeded by car from brigade headquarters to a place called Kilbarry on the banks of the Blackwater, three miles east of Fermoy, where it had been learned, that the British officers had arrived earlier that day. The fishing hut was quietly occupied and the General's personal servant was arrested and handed over to a few of the local Volunteers who had been mobilised for the purpose of keeping the place under observation. We then proceeded to search for General Lucas and the other two officers who were known to have accompanied him. One of the British officers was encountered a short distance from the fishing lodge. Taken completely by surprise, he offered no resistance and was led back a prisoner. Shortly afterwards, the second officer was found just as he had tied up after the day's fishing, and was treated likewise. There was still no trace of General Lucas, and, as it was getting late in the afternoon, it was decided that Freddy Clancy and I would proceed, one up and the other down, the river in search of the missing officer. Coming through a small wood I ran unexpectedly into General Lucas as he was making his way back to the lodge. After a moment's mutual scrutiny, I gave the order "hands up". The British General hesitated for a moment, but dropping his fishing rod, he complied. He allowed himself to be disarmed and marched back to the lodge. At this stage we were not quite sure of the identity of the first two prisoners, so I named the I.R.A. officers to General Lucas and asked if he had any objection to naming his two comrades, to which he replied, "None". Thereupon General Lucas pointed out Colonel Dunford of the Royal Artillery and Colonel Tyrrell of the Royal Engineers, adding: "What do you propose to do with us?" He was informed that the three were to be held prisoners pending further instructions from I.R.A. headquarters. In the meantime, facilities would be accorded him to communicate with his relatives. The first part of the plan, having been brought to a successful conclusion, it was necessary to remove the captured officers well away from the Fermoy area without delay as it was realised that the reactions to this incident might be swift and far- reaching. Accordingly, it was decided to use, as well as the Ford car in which we had traveled, the British officers's large touring car, for which a Volunteer driver was quickly found. The arrangement now made was that Sean Moyland and I would drive with Colonel Tyrrell in the Ford car and Liam Lynch with Paddy Clancy would accompany General Lucas and Dunford in the other other, the Ford to travel 50 to 100 yards ahead of the other car, but to keep in touch as far as possible. Making a detour south of Fermoy, we set off on the journey west.
For a time all went well. The Ford maintained the appointed distance, while we kept a
watchful eye on the following car. We were approaching the main Fermoy-Cork Road
near the village of Rathcormac and the Ford had temporarily lost contact with the
second car at a wide sweeping bend of the road. By this time the British officers had
begun to realise their position, and their instinct led them to make a bid for freedom.
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