IRA report reveals ambush of Collins was ‘fortuitous’

THE engagement between IRA riflemen and Free State soldiers in which Michael Collins was killed was largely fortuitous and involved terrific fire, a previously unseen report sent to IRA headquarters by the ambush squad reveals.

The report is contained in a new book, The IRA: A Documentary History 1916-2005, which features previously secret internal documentation held by the guerrilla organisation.

The report of the famous ambush at Béal na mBláth in West Cork was sent by the IRA’s 1st southern division headquarters staff to the chief of staff Liam Lynch two days after the attack on August 22, 1922.