daughters Mary Kate and Margaret, and her son Stephen that, although HE knew that they had no "Jack" in the family, he would convince the Tans that here was, indeed, another son by that name and the family should do nothing else but back him up. True to his word, Sgt. Murphy invented so many facts about the legendary "Jack" that his report was fully believed and accepted. This, may very well be the reason why Mick Murphy was only interned instead of being court-martialled. Hunger Strike In the Cork Jail I was lodged in Wing No. 10 together with a number of untried prisoners. Among them were Larry Breen, Mick Sheehan, J. Kenny (Tipperary), Michael Ivory (Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny), Joe Murphy, Sean and Frank Nolan, Tadgh Hanley, Charlie Murray, and others from Cork; also there were Connie McNamara, Frank Glasgow, Taddy Kelly, Sean Hennessy (Limerick City), M. Burke (Co. Clare). Dan [17] O'Brien (Liscarroll, Co. Cork), the brothers John Joe and Tom Crawford (Ballylanders)y Mick Crowleys Jerry Callaghan (Knocklong), Sean Riordan, M.Sheehy (Kilmallock), L. Keane, J. Connors (Galbally) Co. Limerick)p as also three men from Youghal, some more from West Cork, and quite a number of young prisoners from Worth Kerry whose names I do not recall. In addition, but located in Wing No. 4 there were Mick Fitzgerald (Fermoy), Seamus Quinlan, Dan O'Sullivan, and J. O'Callahan from Cork who had already been tried and, like Mick Murphy, were on serious charges. Most of the Warders resided in my home Parish (St. Finbarrs West) and I knew everyone of them. In order, I list those who were the most understanding and best: Tom O'Shea (Kerry), Quigley and Fitzpatrick (Midlands), Deady (Kerry), all of them were very human and decent men. With us, and in charge of us prisoners, was Maurice Crowe (Tipperary) who had been on several hunger strikes; as also Tadg Manley, who was moved to Wing 4. after he was tried, and his companion J. Murray, an ex-British soldier who, although he had had no part in the Middleton Ambush, yet remained steadfast in his attitude and loyalty. Soon after we had been incarcerated, some of the prisoners agitated for a hunger strike so, after a few days, a vote was taken. I was one of five prisoners who opposed a hunger strike on the grounds that it was nothing but a subterfuge since some of the prisoners were found guilty while others were caught carrying firearms. These very charges entitled us to treatment as "Prisoners of War" and, as such, we were not bound to recognise the authority of the British Government. The voting was well over 100 against the four of us opposing. Mick Fitzgerald and Joe Murphy joined me in the opposition, and while I am not quite sure of the fourth, I believe it was Mick Sheehan. Obviously, and with the very small minority of the four of us, the Hunger Strike was called; it is all the more tragic to recall that both Mick Fitzgerald and Joe Murphy, who had strongly opposed the vote, died an agonising death in that very hunger strike! The hunger strike started on a Wednesday morning when all food was left outside the cells, untouched. On Thursday night 26 or 28 prisoners were removed for deportation, Tadg Manley being one of them. Consternation was widespread the following morning when the remaining prisoners learned that those leaving had [18] broken the strike and partook of food before their departure. The following week consternation was even greater when Tom Shea, the friendly warder, came to my cell at 7 a.m. to give me the sad news that a number of arrests had been made on the previous night and that now lodged in Wing No. 4 were: Terry McSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork and, also, O.C. of Cork No.1 Brigade; furthermore incarcerated were Liam Lynch, Sean Hegarty, Dan Donovan, Michael Leahy, Joseph O'Connor, Michael Carey, and Lar Cotter, with the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth of the prisoners all giving false names. I arranged with the warders, O’Shea and Quigley, that I would go on the exercise yard of Wing No. 10. Then, and because all of us were under observation from the tower while on exercise, I insisted that Terry McSwiney should be the ONLY one to be brought to that yard, there to recognise me and to come right over and shake hands. The others, who had given false names, were NOT to know me. Later by arrangement, and again helped by Tom O'Shea, we all met in my cell. An escape plan was discussed then, with warders O'Shea, Fitzpatrick, Deady, and Quigley all having a big part in it. Warder Quigley, being a mechanic by profession, had a "roving" job and he could go to any part of the prison. The same applied
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