Free The Real Chief - Liam Lynch by Meda Ryan Page B

biography.
    Meda Ryan

7. Arrested with Tomás MacCurtain
    Dáil Éireann, the Irish Volunteers, Sinn Féin, Cumann na mBan and the Gaelic League were now prohibited. Military and police raids at all hours of day and night had become commonplace. The jails in Ireland were filling up.
    General Sir Nevil Macready was appointed GOC to the British forces in Ireland on 23 March 1920 and took up duty on 14 April. Shortly afterwards, Sir Hamar Greenwood was ap­pointed chief secretary. Macready had discussions with Sir Henry Wilson, chief of the imperial general staff. He records: ‘Before I crossed to Dublin we had several long talks on the general situ­ation, from which it was clear that he firmly held to a policy of stamping out rebellion with a strong hand, a policy with which I was in absolute agreement on the understanding that the govern­­ment would provide the necessary means.’ He proceeded to use a ‘strong hand’ and records that by the end of April 1920, 241 known or suspected IRA officers had been dealt with, and that a third of them came from County Cork. 1
    Lynch in Cork No. 2 brigade had built up the confidence of his volunteer group. Their morale was high and they had a binding element of brotherhood and unity. His letters during this period reflect his contentment. ‘It’s a grand generation to live in,’ he wrote. 2 The decision to make a success of the struggle was coupled with determination to succeed against all odds. Liam, with the other men, had not taken the decision lightly. Large bodies of men had adjusted themselves mentally to a new con­cept of the historic struggle. They were prepared for self sacrifice, loyalty and daring. This national movement was dif­ferent from all previous attempts to attain liberty. The guerrilla idea was a fundamental departure from previous policies, and military assis­tance from outside would be insignificant, except for the pur­chase of arms where possible. It was a national policy, recog­nised by their national government, constitutionally elected by the votes of an overwhelming majority of the people. Despite arrests by the British forces there was no serious disruption of IRA activity.
    In March 1920 when Liam returned to his brigade, he moved his headquarters from Glenville to a more central location, Mourne Abbey. Liam continued to give officers the maximum amount of authority and freedom of action, and then hold them responsible for the result. The development of guerrilla warfare was built on the amount of captured arms which each unit could secure. In May 1920 Liam was worried by inactivity in other areas and ex­pressed official concern. ‘Those places where guerilla warfare against the enemy has been waged with great activity and effective­ness represent only a small por­tion of the country. In some parts there has been marked in­activity. Officers who are neglec­ting their duty must get on or get out.’ 3 Because of Liam’s excel­lent organisation, his ability to make quick decisions and to use ini­tiative helped him to play a competent part in the fight for free­dom in Cork No. 2 brigade. Together with Cork No. 1 and Cork No. 3 brigades, Cork county played a large part (if not a major part) in gaining freedom for Ireland.
    At Mourne Abbey stores, brigade headquarters, Liam was joined by Vice-commandant George Power, who was just be­gin­ning to take up full time active service. Power was now on the run; on 1 April he was arrested in his parents’ home in Fermoy. Having asked permission from the officer in charge to go upstairs to collect some clothing, he went into a bedroom, locked the door and escaped through a window.
    During this time, Michael Fitzgerald and his comrades re­mained in Cork jail. Liam drew up rescue plans on several oc­casions, but it was felt that possible casualties would be too great. Liam decided that if the British authorities