At that moment - and often in later years - the last four words caused me to break out in a derisive laugh. Sure enough, and right after Tadg's dramatic call for surrender, I heard Jimmy Walsh's loudly whispered comment: "D'ye hear him (meaning Tadg), he'll sure bring them out on top of us". Meanwhile, I threw my three egg bombs at the back door, but they made no impression whatever and just fizzled out like so many wet firecrackers. There and then, I was cured of my exaggerated opinion of their power and effectiveness. While the firing continued, Mick Murphy came back to me, told me that our charge had misfired and, instead of detonating in a forward direction, most of the force had been thrown back doing heavy damage to the little cottage. Mick then admitted that the misfiring of the charge and the absence of a hose and petrol, plus the lack of any really suitable and powerful weapons, left us no choice but to retire; and our withdrawal had to be effected as quickly as possible because any delays might bring on British reinforcements and, thus, result in probable casualties and almost certain captures of some of our men. Others in the party that night were Curly Collins (who later became a medical doctor), Pat Collins, and Jerome and Peter Donovan, as also Steve O’Riordan and Maurice Walsh, the latter two driving part of the way back to Cork with a horse-and-sidecar in which they had stashed away some of our materials and weapons. Some weeks later a man, named Quinn, was drawn to our attention. He was well dressed, well spoken and had come to the Thomas Ashe Club, stating that he had important information and then telling those present that the R.I.C. planned a raid on the Club. His warning was disregarded by most of the members and, subsequently, four lads of "D” Company, 2nd Batt. were arrested. Quinn returned later pretending to be highly indignant that his information had been ignored. Prior to this, however, we had learned that he was a spy for the British. He had come to Cork from Dublin on a special mission shadowing Michael Collins. Late that same [12] night I met Thomas McCurtain, Dommy O'Sullivan, and some others of our lads who told me that Quinn was going back to Dublin the following day and who suggested a plan to have him "escorted" and then eliminated. I strongly disagreed with that plan pointing out that "to get" Quinn on a train and then try to escape would be equal to committing suicide. The others saw reason in my objection and, consequently, Mick Murphy went up to Quinn and asked him to stay over that night, telling him that he and some friends wanted to show him a machine gun which they did not know how to operate properly. Quinn fell for this ruse and he was promptly executed the following night. The newspapers headlined the discovery of the body making special mention of the note "SPY" which was pinned to it. The following night upon entering Father 0’Leary's Hall on Bandon Road, Ned Carey from Lough Road (who, incidentally, had lost a leg in World War I) called me over first asking if it was safe to talk to me. I assured him it was, and he then informed me that the executed man's name had not been Quinn but QUINLISK and that they had been together as Prisoners of War in the same camp in Germany. Ned then proceeded to give me other details about the man's background, such as that he hailed from Clonmel, etc., all of which I passed on to the Brigade O.C. right away, realising that this was additional and very important information for GHQ. Quinlisk, incidentally, was the first of his outfit to be trapped and swiftly dealt with. His special mission had been to hunt down "big game" - such as Michael Collins - and it was fortunate, indeed, that we got to him before he had a chance to succeed. On the night of March 20th, 1920, Tomas McCurtain was murdered in his own home. Two members of the R.I.C., who sympathised with us, later told us that they were forced against their will to participate in that murder patrol. Reprisals were planned by Cork 1 Brigade. Scouting the City, night after night, we found that more than 70 members of the R.I.C., armed with carbines, revolvers, etc., were stationed at strategic points on the streets of Cork. So, it was decided to disarm them and to shoot any who tried to resist and who, thereby, would endanger life and liberty of our own soldiers. All plans were made for a Saturday night to commence at the stroke of 10 PM. On the previous Thursday night, I was ordered by Terry MeSwiney, the then Brigade O.C. to go with an escort and check out the reports of all our scouts. [13] I found that every single one proved to be correct. Then, a special call came from Dublin on Friday and when Florrie O'Donoghue went up there he found, to his consternation, that there were not only strong objections to our planned reprisals but, actually even threats of resignations if they were carried out. Florrie returned and, consequently, the operations for reprisals were called of. Quite understandably, there was a lot of bitter feeling over this
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