Because I knew Reggie so well, as a man of sterling qualities and deep, honest convictions, I also knew that Reggie never WOULD nor COULD have written a letter of that content. I remember well that I was so deeply concerned and dismayed that I called on Florrie O'Donoghue to discuss the matter with him. Gentle as ever, Florrie smiled at my indignation; then he got up and went upstairs only to re-appear a few minutes later, holding in his hand and giving to me a Photostat copy of the actual last letter that Reggie Dunne had written before his execution. As a matter of fact, Florrie turned over that copy to me, so that I was able to have twelve copies printed of it. While discussing the whole thing, Florrie told me that Rex Taylor greatly regretted publication of that last letter, explaining that the contents had been "quoted" to him from memory by a person who, evidently, just wanted some free publicity and to inject himself and his name into the book. While this is an entirely plausible explanation, it, however, remains beyond explanation WHY a well-established and well-known author, of Taylor's reputation, ever accepted this "quoted" [87] letter, instead of insisting on being shown the original. I should be added here that I also consulted my good friend Joe McGrath in Dublin on the matter. Joe, who held most of Reggie Dunne's papers, and also Ben Byrne, both assured me that the copy of Reggie’s last letter, handed to me by Florrie O'Donoghue, was completely authentic in every word! As can be imagined, I was very happy and relieved about this, as I had known Reggie Dunne, as also Joe Sullivan, to be, both, men of the utmost integrity, courage, and conscientiousness. What I had always known, was once again confirmed to me: Both these men had done a great and courageous service to Ireland in particular, and to humanity in general, by ridding us of a monster such as Wilson. Unfortunately, Arthur Griffiths strongly denounced the elimination of Wilson and, in doing so, he displeased many of the Irish people who knew only too well of the criminal attitude Wilson had adopted and of his blood-thirsty outrageous directed against our people and, in particular, his sponsoring the Belfast pogroms. This denunciation, certainly did not improve Griffiths image which had never been overly good right from the beginning of his election. De Valera, on the other hand, took the exact opposite course and he drew the attention of the people especially to the widows and orphans who were the main victims in the aftermath of the Orange Murders in Belfast. This, he maintained, was a direct result of the inactivity, the spouting of platitudes, and even the callous support of certain people in the twenty-six counties who were too cowardly or indifferent, to openly decry and deplore the outrages. Michael Collins, very wisely, remained completely silent. In the "inner circles", it was firmly believed that Michael had wanted to have Wilson eliminated, yet, an order to that effect had never been recorded. [88] The Civil War One morning we woke up to the terrifying news that the Free State Army, with artillery loaned by the British, had bombarded the famous and historical building of the Four Courts in Dublin where many of our Dublin and IRA Executives were housed. When the Civil War had started Maurice and Mrs. Horgan just arrived in Cobh at that time. Maurice was one of the best and most loyal supporters of the Physical Force Movement in the U.S. and he was also a very active member of the Clan na Gael together with Tom Duffy, my brother Dan Neenan and others all of them being attached to the Devoy-Cohalan Groups. Obviously we greeted the travellers very warmly and, being a personal friend of my brother Dan hence of my entire family - we held him in especially deep respect. Maurice was barely off the liner when he asked me. "Now, Connie, are ye fighting for Document No. 2?? I hotly denied even the suggestion stating that I felt - as many others had Document No. 2 was nothing but a political missive; that we - the old guard did not recognise it nor did we agree with the "political meanderings" of any person or persons. Then, I added, that we had pledged our full allegiance to the Irish Republic and that we did not intend ever to be diverted from that course by anyone. Maurice then asked me many more political questions and as he was very keen in getting the true facts of the entire situation I was only too keen on helping him in every way possible. Maurice was planning to visit his family in Lixnaw, Go. Kerry, as also a number of other relatives in various other places all over Ireland. Glad to assist him as much as possible in his travels, I gave him a special permit which asked all IRA members with whom he might possibly come into contact to assist him in every way. Sometime later Maurice wrote and
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