thanked me saying how extremely well and courteous he had been treated on all his travels as soon as he produced my permit. He wrote that many members had gone out of their way to give him safe conduct especially at bridges and road blocks. Frankly, this pleased me a great lot. all the more so since no person deserved the V.I.P. treatment more than Maurice did. Many months after I had met Maurice at Cobh someone sent me a copy of the Gaelic American newspaper which published an interview Maurice had given the [89] press on his return to the States. His account, regarding the political situation in Ireland was exceptionally fair quoting almost verbally the statements I had given him as "those of a prominent Officer in the Cork IRA” but wisely, not mentioning my name. A meeting was held by the Cork 1 Brig. Officers and practically everyone of them decided to oppose the Free State action of starting the Civil War. A convey was arranged immediately and a column set out with Dan Donovan in charge accompanied by Mick Murphy (Vice O.C.) and myself. We proceeded to Buttevant and then on to Ashford Castle in West Limerick. We knew we were right between two Free State Army posts, so, Dan Donovan and Mick Murphy went on ahead to meet some local IRA officers, leaving me in charge. It was getting dark by that time and, with Corney Sullivan (one of our men), I walked along the boreen to get a good look at that one Free State Army post. We had barely got near the place when a shot rang out; some of our lads ran for shelter while I dropped flat on the ground lifting my head carefully a few moments later to get a good look around. Just about a couple of yards away I saw a human shadow carrying a rifle and, somehow, there seemed to be something familiar about him. So I took the chance, l walked up to him and recognised Willie Spillane of G. Company, 2nd Batt who hailed from Bandon Road, Cork and formerly a very active boy scout who had often helped us in former days. His entire family was very loyal to and active in the Republican cause. Even in the twilight I suddenly noticed his face suddenly turning an ashen grey, then he collapsed right in front of my feet. Corney Sullivan had come up to me by that time and together we gently lifted and turned Willie over and there in his back, we saw where the bullet had entered. Our other lads had crawled up to us by that time, cradling Willie's head in my lap, Corney recited immediately the Act of Contrition with all of us joining in praying in low voices. A few minutes later our poor Willie was dead. The bullet had entered his back and on exit had exploded some of his own bullets in his bandoleer killing Willie while some of the fragments in turn hit another one of our young lads by the name of O'Connell. He was from 6th Batt., Cork No 1 Brig. and he was wounded so badly that we had to carry him all the way back to Buttevant. Willie's death and the other lad’s bad injury cast a deep gloom over all of us, being only too aware of the fact that brother was killing brother. [90] On arrival in Buttevant and after being given some refreshments, we started on our way to meet Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff, at Newcastle West. After some delay we continued on our way and stopped outside Adare in Co. limerick. An advance party was sent on ahead to take up position opposite the Free State Army post which happened to be in a cigarette factory. Liam Lynch, Sean Hyde and Ben Farrell, together with a local scout, were all standing at the road junction when we suddenly heard a couple of shots followed by a rapid blast of machine gun fire. What had happened was that a car coming by had refused to stop for the Free State Army sentry who fired the gun shots which were met by the machine gun blast from our advance party. We did not know this as the car approached us at great speed and then suddenly turned left. Both Liam and Sean. shouted "Halt" but the car did not stop. They fired after it, as I did too with handguns and rifle trying to hit the cars tires. The car finally stopped somewhat further on near a tree across the road we ran up and then noticed that the occupants were IRA men from Limerick. Fortunately our shooting had been inaccurate and none of them was injured but the car was hit in several places. A party of us including Mick Murphy and Corney 0’Sullivany decided to attack the Free State Army Post from the rear and we actually got to within a short distance of the roof of a shed. Being rather ramshackle it began to collapse and just then we noticed a goat butting vigorously at something in the tall grass. We shouted "Hands up and surrender" and immediately two Free State Army officers emerged from the grass. Had it not been for our "friend" the goat they could have easily shot us. After we had captured the officers the entire Free State garrison surrendered a little later and we divided their rifles, revolvers and ammunition between some of the local IRA lads with the balance going to the Limerick IRA men. It was fortunate [91] indeed, that only light shooting was needed to take this post
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