RIC Ballytrain Barracks Fierce Fighting - 14.February.1920

After a month of intense IRA activity across the country, the War of Independence continued unabated in February 1920. Becoming more daring in the process, the IRA continued to target the RIC and their barracks. Elsewhere, local issues and tensions would also surface, and in some cases, they become embroiled in the struggle for Independence. February 1920 would be a month of chaos across the country Described by the newspapers of the day as a ‘fierce affray’ the three-hour assault on the RIC barracks at Ballytrain, county Monaghan was a significant engagement for the Monaghan IRA during the War of Independence. Launched at 2 am on a Sunday morning and led by Eoin O’Duffy, later a Commissioner of An Garda Siochana, the attack had been carefully planned. Located eight miles from Castleblayney, the RIC barracks in Ballytrain was manned by two sergeants and four constables all of whom it was said fought against the odds for over three hours. When at 5am ‘the leader’ of the IRA party demanded the officers surrender it was met by continued firing from the police. O’Duffy then gave the order to plant explosives at the gable wall, which instantly collapsed. Four RIC officers were buried in the rubble of the building and were later transferred to Carrickmacross hospital for treatment. About fifty men then rushed the building carrying off a quantity of weapons A house belonging to a man named Mitchell was raided before the attack, where four members of the family were held hostage throughout the night. The IRA smashed all of the windows in the house allowing them to fire on the barracks. As many as 150 men took part in the raid, which also saw some men taking up position in cattle byres, which had been cleaned out in order to give protection. It was later alleged that O’Duffy had told the RIC men that he was glad no one had been killed in the exchange- ‘We did not come here to do injury, but only for arms’. It was hardly the welcome Sergeant Graham had expected having only arrived in the barracks three days before. Download Source:  Ulster Herald, 21 February 1920, page 2. + Sligo Champion 21.February.1920                                                                                                 Ulster Herald 1901-current, Saturday, February 21, 1920 pg 2 Sligo Champion 1879-current, Saturday, February 21, 1920