Women escaped the worst of the brutalities in the War of Independence

Violence towards women was certainly a feature of the War of Independence, but serious sexual assaults and the targeted killing of females were rare, writes Marie Coleman.

THERE were many awful and brutal incidents of violence and killing by Crown forces and the IRA across the protracted insurgency that was the War of Independence (1919-1921).

Yet, despite many bitter attacks and reprisals, serious and violent physical or sexual assaults against women were rare.