strict disciplinarian and exceptionally intelligent, resourceful and courageous man. Although he was a man of few words and, often even quite abrupt in conversation, he was always fair and understanding. Before parting, Sean asked me to meet him again the following Sunday at Ballygarven; he named two "safe" houses there where we would be undisturbed, both of which I knew very well. He planned to cross the River Lee at Passage on that Sunday morning. On the way back to Cork with my two young companions, a big green car travelling at high speed, suddenly passed us shortly before we reached the Castle Tavern. I was very startled when I recognised it as the British Intelligence car which their "murder-gang" normally used. However, and since the car was fortunately going so fast, they did not take any notice of us. Stopping at the Castle Tavern, I met the owner M. Canavan. His wife (nee Hart) was a cousin of mine and the sister of our Vice O.C. of 5th Batt. Cork 1 Brig. Mr. and Mrs. Canavan, both, advised us strongly not to travel on as the next village was being raided by British troops and completely surrounded. After waiting for some time, we decided better to take a different road and arrived at Parnell Bridge in Cork where we were stopped by Black and Tans. Once again luck was with us because with the Tans was a member of the R.I.C. by the name of Carroll who knew me and was friendly to us; he insisted that I was a good friend of his and told us to drive on. Carroll, (incidentally, was a well-known athlete and a famous high jumper). This, indeed, had been a very close shave as the Tans seemed to be in a very ugly mood. Sunday came, and I set out to meet Sean Hegarty in Ballygarven as agreed upon. I had barely arrived when Sean left a message for me he had to leave there immediately and go further west. The previous day the 9th Batt. Cork 1 Brigade had raided British military supplies at Carrigaline Station which were on their way to the Crosshaven British posts. This had infuriated the British so much that they were combing Ballygarven and that entire area on the Sunday. I travelled on in a western direction and, finally, caught up with Sean who had stopped at the house of the Hydes family in Toreen. This was a famous "safe" house for the IRA which was actually situated in a very dangerous area but scouts were posted well in advance and on all sides so that they could give an early warning. [70] This meeting with Sean took place a very short time before the Truce, yet, Sean never mentioned one word about it. Later he told me that he too had NOT known anything about the fact that the Truce was to be signed and that he only learned about it on the very day it happened. The night before the Truce was signed was a Sunday and the only activity planned in our Battalion was the apprehension of a well-known British Intelligence agent who was responsible for a great deal of the harm and hardship that befell our men. This assignment came within the activities of Company and the man in question was caught and executed. There is one little incident that comes to mind and is worth recounting. Prior to Mick Murphy's arrest, and before he went to the column, he told me of the necessity to raid for a certain machine gun part that was vital to make the gun operational. I agreed to go along with him and, as a matter of fact, we did get the part. But to give an idea of Mick's amazing courage - not to call it impudence - he insisted that we hire a Jarvey and drive to our destination "in style". Frankly, I felt uneasy and conspicuous enough even if we had walked there and I sure would have felt a lot more comfortable getting there in that manner and on my own two feet! That same night before the Truce was signed Bob Aherne, one of our full-time Intelligence Officers, was hiking along with me to the Lough area where we were trying to hunt up a place to shelter and sleep. Approaching the Bandon Road, we were told that H Company, 1st Battalion had captured four young British soldiers attached to the Cork Jail Guard and that they were to be executed. Immediately, Bob and I set out trying to find our I.R.A. men and their four prisoners; I planned to release the soldiers right away since I knew only too well that any harm done to them would only result in a wholesale spree of arrests and executions of many of our people and of innocent civilians by the British. We searched everywhere and in several different areas of the city but, unfortunately, we did not find them. Finally, at about 1:30 pm. we gave up and shortly after met some men belonging to H. Company, 2nd Battalion, that was in Togher, and the men told us they had been told that the soldiers had been shot. Bob and I just could not believe it and still hoped it was a false rumour and that the soldiers were still alive. The [71] next few hours passed with ever more discouraging news reaching us, until finally, Bob and I had to realise that our efforts had been in vain, the soldiers had been executed, and we had been unable to prevent it. Fortunately, for our men
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