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IRA
Ruben Kelly (Pistol) Q3+ C2 Leader Hunter MacMahon (Pistol & 2 x Grenades) Q4+ C2 Conall MacCartan (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Fionn Cody (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Iarlaith O'Malley (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Henry MacNally (Pistol) Q4+ C2 Freddie O'Boylan (Pistol) Q4+ C2 Frankie O'Daly (Pistol) Q4+ C2 Pádraig Gerty (Pistol) Q4+ C2 |
RIC
Inspector Peter Cormick (Pistol) Q3+ C2 Leader ConstableTheo Kennedy (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Constable Kyle Lynch (Rifle) Q4+ C2 ConstableArchie O'Healy (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Constable James Carson (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Constable Sean Byrne (Rifle) Q4+ C2 Constable Eoin Brady (Rifle) Q4+ C2 |
The Royal Irish Constabulary van driving along the Dublin – Naas road in response to a urgent call from Naas police station which is under fire.
Suddenly Constable Kennedy brakes and the van skids to a halt as they turn the bend and find the road blocked.
As the van stops IRA man Hunter McMahon tries to throw one of his grenades at the van but drops it instead and ineptly fumbles around for it.
Inspector Cormick orders his squad out of the van and they do so, opening fire on the hapless McMahon.
However, a fusilade of pistol shots come from the bushes behind them where previously hidden IRA men Henry McNally and Freddie O'Boylan are lurking, wounding Constable Lynch.
The three constables at the right hand side of the van fire at the crouching figure of IRA man MCMahon, who is still fumbling with his grenades, and kill him stone dead.
It’s not looking at all good for pistol wielding Padraig Gerty as he faces three RIC constables aiming .303 Lee Enfields at him and down he goes too.
Having wounded one and chased off the two other IRA pistoleers, Inspector Cormick heroically orders his men to advance along the hedge towards the roadblock.
In the meantime, IRA leader Kelly, very disappointed by the turn of events, gets his remaining men to line the roadblock and the hedge, hoping to get something out of what has been an unsuccessful intervention thus far.
The remainder of Inspector Cormick’s squad file through the woods but come under fire from the hedge opposite as they emerge and Constable O’ Healy is wounded immediately.
A second shot from the hedge kills Constable Brady and Inspector Cormick orders a retreat. Constables Kennedy and Carson return fire at the IRA men behind the hedge.
Inspector Cormick carries the wounded Constable O’Healy to safety. They escape across the fields leaving Brady dead, Lynch wounded and captured, and the lorry abandoned.
