Battle for Independence Leaves Three Dead

Author: Parin Mistry

Published: June 17, 1924, The Dublin Daily

            As Ireland continues to be plagued by violence in the battle for independence, three members of the Free Staters were found dead last night near O’Connell Bridge in the capital, Dublin, sent to their grave by a Republican sniper.

            Discovered this morning, near the bridge, a turret lay idling in the middle of the road, a middle-aged man collapsed against it suffering from a fatal head shot. In the gutter lay the other Free Stater, a young woman. Further down O’Connell Street lay the third dead Free Stater, a young man.

            A sniper and cap belonging to the Republicans was found at the scene of the crime, suggesting that they were responsible for the three deaths.

            A machine gun shooter from the Free Staters, who was positioned near O’Connell Street, reported to his commanding officer, “I saw a young lad wearing a Republican badge dart into O’Connell Street before disappearing from my line of sight. I was unable to kill him. I never saw him again after that.”

            Another witness, Fellena MacCabe, who was hiding in one of the buildings nearby exclaimed, “I heard two gunshots go off, and then another one shortly after. All I saw was a sniper and cap on the ground, and dead bodies when I peeked out the window.”

            As the country continues to fight for Independence, citizens hope that cities, like Dublin, do not continue to be painted red by the strokes of steel. 

O'Connell Bridge - the sight of the three deaths.