all political activities.
In July Collins was authorised by Richard Mulcahy as chief-of-staff and Cathal Brugha as minister for defence to kill Detective Sergeant Patrick Smyth, because he was a particular thorn in the side of the republicans. He had been warned on a number of occasions ‘to lay off republicans or he would be shot’, one of those who took part in the assassination later explained.
‘I’m not letting any young scuts tell me how to do my duty,’ Detective Sergeant Patrick Smyth had declared. He had arrested Piaras Beaslaí for making a seditious speech and had found some incriminating documents on him. Collins and Harry Boland warned Smyth not to produce the documents in court, but the detective ignored them. As a result Beaslaí was sentenced to two years in jail, instead of the two months he might have otherwise expected.
Jim Slattery recalled a meeting at 35 North Great George’s Street around the middle of July 1919. A number of men were selected by Dick McKee and Mick McDonnell and brought to an inner room. McKee asked if any of them objected to shooting enemy agents.
‘The greater number of Volunteers objected for one reason or another,’ Slattery said. ‘When I was asked the question I said I was prepared to obey orders … I recall that two men, who had previously told Mick McDonnell that they had no objection to being selected for special duty, turned down the proposition at that meeting … McDonnell seemed very annoyed at them and asked them why they had signified their willingness in the first instance.’
Among the men who agreed that night were Tom Keogh, Tom Kilcoyne, Jim Slattery and Joe Leonard. These four, together with Tom Ennis and, later, Paddy O’Daly, were to become the nucleus of the famous Squad, but there was no mention of this that night.
‘We were merely told that we were to be given special duties,’ Slattery added. He received his orders from McDonnell to shoot Detective Sergeant Smyth, who was living in Millmount Avenue. A native of Dromard, County Longford, Smyth was in his early fifties and had helped identify some of the leaders following the Easter Rebellion.
‘McDonnell instructed me to go to Drumcondra Bridge and take with me Tom Keogh, Tom Ennis and Mick Kennedy, who knew Smyth by sight,’ according to Slattery. ‘McDonnell told us that Smyth usually came home by tram, alighted at Botanic Avenue and walked across the bridge. We were to wait at the bridge and shoot Smyth when the opportunity offered. We waited at Drumcondra bridge for about five nights.’
The first time he came along they did not strike because Kennedy was not sure it was Smyth. They expected him to turn into Millmount Avenue where he lived, but he passed the entrance and walked to Milburn Avenue, which was adjacent to his home. It was too late before his would-be assassins realised what had happened. Fearing that they had aroused Smyth’s suspicion, they did not come back for about a week, until the night of 30 July.
They waited that night with .38 revolvers, which they soon found were not powerful enough. They had expected that Smyth would fall as soon as he was shot. ‘But after we hit him he ran,’ Slattery noted. ‘The four of us fired at him. Keogh and myself ran after him right to his own door and I think he fell at the door, but he got into the house.’
Smyth gave a statement next day. ‘When I got off the tram at the end of my own avenue, I saw four or five men against the dead wall, and a bicycle resting against the curb stone. Just as I turned the corner into Millmount Avenue, I was shot in the back. I turned and said to them, “You cowards” and three of them fired again with revolvers at me.’ Even though one bullet had hit his right leg, he had still managed to run towards his home.
‘They pursued me to within fifteen yards of my own door, and kept firing at me all the time. In all about ten or twelve shots were fired at me. I called for assistance but no one
In July Collins was authorised by Richard Mulcahy as chief-of-staff and Cathal Brugha as minister for defence to kill Detective Sergeant Patrick Smyth, because he was a particular thorn in the side of the republicans. He had been warned on a number of occasions ‘to lay off republicans or he would be shot’, one of those who took part in the assassination later explained.
‘I’m not letting any young scuts tell me how to do my duty,’ Detective Sergeant Patrick Smyth had declared. He had arrested Piaras Beaslaí for making a seditious speech and had found some incriminating documents on him. Collins and Harry Boland warned Smyth not to produce the documents in court, but the detective ignored them. As a result Beaslaí was sentenced to two years in jail, instead of the two months he might have otherwise expected.
Jim Slattery recalled a meeting at 35 North Great George’s Street around the middle of July 1919. A number of men were selected by Dick McKee and Mick McDonnell and brought to an inner room. McKee asked if any of them objected to shooting enemy agents.
‘The greater number of Volunteers objected for one reason or another,’ Slattery said. ‘When I was asked the question I said I was prepared to obey orders … I recall that two men, who had previously told Mick McDonnell that they had no objection to being selected for special duty, turned down the proposition at that meeting … McDonnell seemed very annoyed at them and asked them why they had signified their willingness in the first instance.’
Among the men who agreed that night were Tom Keogh, Tom Kilcoyne, Jim Slattery and Joe Leonard. These four, together with Tom Ennis and, later, Paddy O’Daly, were to become the nucleus of the famous Squad, but there was no mention of this that night.
‘We were merely told that we were to be given special duties,’ Slattery added. He received his orders from McDonnell to shoot Detective Sergeant Smyth, who was living in Millmount Avenue. A native of Dromard, County Longford, Smyth was in his early fifties and had helped identify some of the leaders following the Easter Rebellion.
‘McDonnell instructed me to go to Drumcondra Bridge and take with me Tom Keogh, Tom Ennis and Mick Kennedy, who knew Smyth by sight,’ according to Slattery. ‘McDonnell told us that Smyth usually came home by tram, alighted at Botanic Avenue and walked across the bridge. We were to wait at the bridge and shoot Smyth when the opportunity offered. We waited at Drumcondra bridge for about five nights.’
The first time he came along they did not strike because Kennedy was not sure it was Smyth. They expected him to turn into Millmount Avenue where he lived, but he passed the entrance and walked to Milburn Avenue, which was adjacent to his home. It was too late before his would-be assassins realised what had happened. Fearing that they had aroused Smyth’s suspicion, they did not come back for about a week, until the night of 30 July.
They waited that night with .38 revolvers, which they soon found were not powerful enough. They had expected that Smyth would fall as soon as he was shot. ‘But after we hit him he ran,’ Slattery noted. ‘The four of us fired at him. Keogh and myself ran after him right to his own door and I think he fell at the door, but he got into the house.’
Smyth gave a statement next day. ‘When I got off the tram at the end of my own avenue, I saw four or five men against the dead wall, and a bicycle resting against the curb stone. Just as I turned the corner into Millmount Avenue, I was shot in the back. I turned and said to them, “You cowards” and three of them fired again with revolvers at me.’ Even though one bullet had hit his right leg, he had still managed to run towards his home.
‘They pursued me to within fifteen yards of my own door, and kept firing at me all the time. In all about ten or twelve shots were fired at me. I called for assistance but no one
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