On another occasion Jack Cody, Danny Healy (both of them machine gunners from Cork 1 Brig.) and I set out in an armoured car to attack William Street Barracks. Jack, the driver, decided not to go nearer than about 800 yards so, I left them as the car returned to the Barracks. I came across a group of soldiers from IRA, Kerry 2 Brig., commanded by Tom O’Connor and I warned them not to attempt to cross the street. The armoured car had encountered quite some sustained fire from the Free State Army posts and all streets infiltrated were very dangerous. Despite my warning Tom O’Connor, who was also a very promising footballer, made a dash for it and in doing so was promptly shot at and wounded in one leg and had to be taken to hospital. The following day when crossing Roches Street, we found that the Free State forces were across the river Shannon and had infiltrated the adjoining [94] Street which made it dangerous to cross as we had posts on both sides of the river. Denny McCarthy from Cork, Paddy Norton, and myself were crossing one evening. Denny got over safely. Paddy went next but somehow stumbled and fell when he was about three quarters of the way over. Immediately I started running reaching him when he was just getting to his feet, and I gave him a hefty push which propelled him inside the door of a house and we both kept in hiding there. Later I crawled back and even recovered his rifle which was still on the street. Paddy was one of the most courageous young soldiers I bad ever met, he amply proved this during the Black and Tan fight in limerick. Although he was lying down flat when I got back with his rifle, he had been hit in two places in his legs. While I was making arrangements for our ambulance to pick him up at the rear of Mattersons, Paddy suddenly looked at me and said, “Will you mind my rifle for me Connie?” and then I noticed that his face had changed colour and was deathly white. Obviously, the great loss of blood had put him into shock. I was terribly worried about him, praying that the ambulance would arrive quickly, but outwardly I kept calm and cheerful. To him I said in a rather stern voice: “Now, stop worrying! You have nothing but a couple of superficial wounds and you will be all right in a very short time. And if it makes you happy, yes, of course I will mind your rifle, as a matter of fact, I will keep it with me all the time!” I was very fond of young Paddy and saw great promise in him once he attained full manhood. The firing by the Free State forces became very intense and they kept up a concentrated barrage all along the line. The positions we held were right up against theirs, and we had to economise on ammunition. One day I was sent for and going over to the New Barracks I met Dan Donovan, Nick [95] Murphy and several other IRA officers. I was told then that we would have to withdraw and leave Limerick City by a certain hour. I suggested that this was too early for us since it would still be daylight and, consequently, we would come under heavy Free State fire and might quite possibly loose some of our men. Yet, orders were orders and could not be changed. So, I discussed the situation with Johnny O'Connor from Kerry and we decided to try and get some small groups of our men away at spaced intervals. By 11 p.m. we had 130 of the total of 150 troops safely evacuated, they were led by Denis McCarthy of Cobh who had strict orders to walk softly and swiftly but, under no circumstances, to run this could immediately have raised suspicion. We arrived at the New Barracks by 11.45 p.m. and by this time practically all the troops had already left. I was particularly concerned about the wounded Paddy Nortan as I did not want him to fall into the hands of the Free State forces, all the more so after Dan Donovan had told me of the priest's attitude and what he had said. Still, all my insisting and imploring and begging was to no avail. Several limerick IRA officers told me that poor Paddy was far too ill to be moved. Truly it wrenched my heart having to leave him but, of course, I realised that the officers were right -- had I not seen with own eyes the terrible pallor of his face as he lay wounded and the constant lose of blood! Paddy Norton died just a few days later. – Together with Sean Hyde, Joe Kearney, and, Con Conroy we proceeded to Buttevent but I insisted on briefly stopping at Patrick’s Well where I was lucky enough to get a loaf of bread which I devoured at once. I had been just ravenous and simply needed something to eat. Then we stopped again at Adare where I talked with Jimmy McInerney, a very capable and energetic Limerick officer. I also talked to Dan McEnery on that occasion whom I never again. Both men were killed a short time after. Arriving in Buttevant we [96] we immediately asked for provisions to feed our tired troops. One officer of Cork 4 Brig., stationed in Buttevant, wanted to know what kind of outfit we were with that “gorsoon” (meaning me) giving orders,
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