The gun used to assassinate the Free State minister for justice in 1927 was still in use in the 1970s during the Troubles
Kevin O’Higgins: After he was shot and it was clear he had little hope of survival, an ambulance brought him the short distance home where his wife, Birdie, was waiting for himended in the summer of 1923, the defeated republicans, although they had dumped arms, were not in a mood to forgive and forget. They particularly despised the Free State minister for justice, Kevin O’Higgins.
A friend of Childers, present at the scene, reported on his final moments. “He stood with his hands crossed behind him, tied loosely with a piece of cloth, which, had he wished, he could have easily removed. He faced the firing squad calmly, and it was only at the wish of the authorities that he was blindfolded: he had no desire to be so. An officer of high rank, I think, gave the order and before the sounds of the shots reached me, I saw him fall. Death was instantaneous.
It was clear that the wounded man had little hope of survival, so an ambulance brought him the short distance home where his wife, Birdie, was waiting for him. She had heard the gunshots from her home. As her husband’s jacket was taken off, a bullet fell from the sleeve. He was then placed on a mattress on the drawingroom floor. “I couldn’t help it,” he said to Birdie, “I did my best.”
As his life slipped away, O’Higgins thanked everyone present for being there and said he was sorry for having caused them so much trouble. Childers’ revolver, a .32 Spanish automatic, had a colourful afterlife when it ended up in the possession of the judge advocate general of the Free State forces, Cahir Davitt. On one occasion, after attending a dance at the recently opened Metropole Hotel, Davitt was stopped by Free State troops with the gun in his possession. Fearing that he could end up sharing the same fate as Childers, he was keen to verify who he was when taken to a nearby Army barracks.
Erskine-Childers Irish-Republican-Army Irish-Civil-War
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How Megan Campbell's spectacular long throw-in became a weapon for IrelandThe London City Lionesses defender is set to win her 50th international cap against Sweden.
Read more »
Shoppers praise 'secret weapon' to combat frizzy hair whilst smoothing skinBy simply switching out your regular pillowcase for a satin pillowcase you can enjoy smoother, shinier hair and more youthful, hydrated skin as part of your bedtime routine
Read more »
Criminal who supplied Josh Itseli murder weapon allegedly 'caught with drugs'Exclusive: Criminal who supplied Josh Itseli murder weapon 'caught with drugs in UK'.
Read more »
Kevin The Great Dane Named World's Tallest DogA great Dane, who's been described as a 'gentle giant', has broken the record for being the world's tallest dog.Three year old Kevin, from Iowa, stands at 3 ...
Read more »
Kevin Kilbane: Spain to be crowned Euro 2024 champions but Rangnick’s Austria can rattle hierarchyEuro 2024 preview: Progress of mid-tier nations emphasises how badly the modern FAI is doing business
Read more »
Great Dane Kevin verified as 'World's Tallest Dog'Kevin the Great Dane has claimed the Guinness World Record title for the world's tallest dog title after measuring in at 0.97 m (3ft 2in)
Read more »