Lancashire Fusilier capture IRA member 100 years ago
Related
20th September 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of IRA gunman Kevin Barry's capture.
Kevin Gerard Barry was born in Dublin on 20th Jan 1902. In Oct 1917, at the age of 15, he joined 'C' Coy 1st Bn Irish Volunteers/IRA, based on the north side of Dublin. He later transferred to the newly formed 'H' Coy Dublin Brigade. At first Barry was given small tasks, carrying messages, gathering information of army/RIC movements and cutting telegraph lines. As he got older, the higher hierarchy gave him bigger operations. Barry took part in a number of IRA operations in the years leading to his capture, the most prominent ones were:
a. The attack on The Shamrock Works for weapons destined to be handed over to the RIC (Royal Irish
Constabulary)
b. The attack on Dublin Metropolitan Police Barracks, Capel St. Looking for ammunition and explosives.
none found.
c. 01 June 1920 seizing of The King's Inn, used as an outpost garrison; capturing 25 Rifles, 2 Lewis Guns
and a large amount of ammunition.
After The King's Inn operation, Barry was promoted to section commander. On 20th Sep 1920 Barry, along with 10-15 men, were ordered to ambush an army supply truck at Monk's Bakery in Upper Church St/ North King's at 1100hrs. The gunmen moved into position and waited. The truck arrived at 1130hrs to pick up a supply of bread. It was escorted by a Sgt and six privates from The Duke of Wellington's Regiment.
When the Sgt and two men went into the bakers yard, the gunmen moved towards the truck. Barry and his section were covering the back of the truck The remaining soldier's were ordered to put their weapons on the ground. Different stories from witnesses: some state the soldier's complied, others stated that they refused, but all agreed a shot was fired by someone and the IRA opened fire sending rounds into the truck from all directions. There were three soldiers standing at the back of the truck: Pte Harold Washington, age 15, Pte Thomas Humphries, age 19 and Pte Marshall Whitehead age, 23. Pte Washington was killed immediately. The other two men died a few days later. During the gun battle Barry's weapon jammed.
He cleared it and fired one round and it jammed again. He dived under the army truck and tried to clear his weapon. The remaining IRA, with the element of surprise lost fled. (IRA operational orders at that time stated: The close presence of so many British troops and Paramilitary Police better armed meant that prolonged fire-fights in urban situations were suicide for IRA and making a quick getaway was important)
In the mean time a piquet patrol of the 1st Bn The Lancashire Fusiliers, based at the North Dublin Union Workhouse, close by, raced to the area and captured Kevin Barry under the truck. He was armed with a .38 Mauser Parabellum with snub nose ammo (this ammunition was in breach of The Hague Convention) Barry was taken to North Dublin Union to be interrogated by two officers and three Sgts from the Lancashire Fusiliers. Barry would only give his name, address and stated he was a medical student. He was imprisoned in Mountjoy Jail. Michael Collins tried to break him out, but there were too many soldiers guarding him.
Barry was tried by Courts Martial under The Restoration of Order in Ireland Act and found guilty of the murder of Pte Washington. His defence was Pte Washington was killed by a .45 calibre, while Barry had a .38 weapon. The Judge Advocate General judged that the court had only to prove that Barry was one of the party that killed three British soldiers, and every member of the party was technically guilty of murder.
Barry was hanged in Mountjoy Jail on 01 Nov 1920 and buried in the prison grounds. He was only 18. 80 yrs after his death on 04 Oct 2001 his body was exhumed and reburied in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.Many people believe that the hanging of Barry lead Michael Collins to order the murder of 14 British Secret Service agents on what is known as Blood Sunday, on 21 Nov 1920, just three weeks after the hanging.