to Tom O'Shea, he too was free to move around. Fitzpatrick, who was attached to the infirmary, used to accompany the Doctors on their rounds to the sick prisoners. All this represented a good organisation right inside the prison for us. Two of the warders agreed to smuggle in guns, they fully participated in the planning from inside the jail, and they also provided us with floor plans of all the various locations. Yet, the very day we had set for our escape plans, Terry McSwiney was taken out for trial; inside 24 hours he was deported to Brixton Prison, London, and our plans became obsolete. Indeed, a crushing blow and disappointment to all of us. Our cell doors were usually locked at 4 P.M.; but, some days after all this happened, one afternoon, my cell door suddenly opened and I saw Maurice Crowe our leader standing outside escorted by a 1st and a 2nd Lieutenant of the British forces, as also by Prison Governor King, Chief Warder O'Donoghue, and warder Tom O'Shea. Maurice stepped up to my cot and quickly informed me of the situation at hand. While whispering his advise how best to act under the circumstances, he mentioned in particular that "The lads from Kerry were far too young for deportation and [19] for such a trip without decent food, care, or medical attention. That was all the preparation I needed, an idea quickly formed in my mind. Maurice wanted my advice and asked me to talk. Still lying on my cot, I invited the entire escort into my cell and asked the 1st Lieutenant what "this was all about". "I am instructed by my Commanding Officer", he said, "to order you to break this hunger strike. If this order is not obeyed, you will all be deported tonight." "Who is your Commanding Officer?" I queried. And since he would not answer, I added, "I presume it is General Strickland", then I continued, "You may go back to General Strickland, or to who ever gave you that order, I do want you to tell him to 'GO TO HELL”. You may tell him that this is not the first time you have deported Irishmen nor, I am sure, will it be the last time." “I think you are making a grave mistake”, the Lieutenant broke in to which I simply replied, "I distinctly tell you that there was NOTHING personal in my answer to you. Please note that both, you officers, came in here with an ultimatum from your Commanding Officer whose authority we prisoners do not recognise. Now, you have the temerity to try and discuss the matter with me. Well, there is NO discussion to your ultimatum. I repeat, just tell your Commanding Officer to G0 TO HELL"!" That ended the matter, and as the whole crowd left, I quickly caught Maurice Crowe by the leg and whispered, "Listen to me carefully, if they are going to deport any or all of us tonight, send for the Doctor right away and tell him that HE will be held responsible if anything happens to any of the young lads. Of course, he will not accept that responsibility but you can scare the daylights out of him anyhow." That same night, beginning at 6:30 pm. and lasting to about 8:30 pm. there was a continuous din. While one could clearly distinguish the banging of doors, cars being revved up pm outside, yelling and shouting, there was none of the [20] customary singing, nor shouting out of orders that might have explained the commotion. The first I knew, and after lying awake all night (one does not sleep well when on hunger strike) was the warder Tom O'Shea, bursting into my cell at 7:30 am. with the exiting and delightful news, "Listen, it really worked, they released all the others last night, including Liam Lynch, Sean Hegarty, Dan Donovan. Michael Leahy, Joe O'Connor, and also all the young lads from Kerry!" I asked him about Mick Fitzgerald and Maurice Crowe, and he told me that they were kept back the same as myself. During the afternoon, Tom O'Shea then brought me a message from Liam Lynch who, in thanking me, also stated that he had heard the reply I had given to the British Officers. The rest of the day was quiet until late that night when Chief Warder O'Donoghue, warder Fitzpatrick, and some other warders came in to my cell with a stretcher. I was told that I was up for deportation and, offering me some brandy, O'Donoghue suggested to me in kindly terms that I take since "I would need it". Up to then we had regarded O'Donoghue as not too
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