Daniel McConnell: Dubious decisions led to death of Michael Collins at Béal na Bláth

Free State Army troops at the scene of the shooting of Michael Collins at Beal na Blath.

On the occasion of the centenary of the death of Michael Collins at just 31 years of age during an ambush at Béal na Bláth on the evening of August 22, 1922, it is hard to escape the conclusion that his downfall was an utterly avoidable tragedy.

His killing, 10 days after the demise of Arthur Griffith, represented a double blow to the fragile Irish Free State which was seeking to bed in despite the refusal of the IRA irregulars to accept the will of the majority of the Irish people who backed the Treaty.