Mr Thomas Duggan Captured — A Well—known Irregular

Galway Observer, 28th October, 1922

Introduction

Information reached Galway on Sunday evening that Thomas Duggan, a prominent leader of the irregular forces, had been captured. The news spread like wildfire, and was the whole topic of conversation in the city. Many people, however, who had read the report shook their heads in that doubting way which said, I have heard that story before. Apparently they belonged to a section who regarded Mr Duggan in the light of a famous general of the South African war who made history.

A representative who had heard the rumour proceeded to G.R.Q. Railway Hotel, Galway, where he was definitely informed that Mr Duggan had been captured. The officer in charge told a very interesting story of the operations leading up to the arrest. It is best told in his own words.

A special cycling patrol under Lieutenant Cooley left Galway on Sunday evening to round up irregulars in the Castlegar and Claregalway districts. At the church at Claregalway two men, Furey and Duignan, were taken prisoners taken. The party then went on to the residence of Mr Holmes, and the out—offices adjacent to the wood were searched. In the top floor of one of these, reached by a rickety stairs, the noise of people moving about was heard by the troops. A peremptory demand to come forward with hands up was answered by the appearance of Thomas Duggan on the landing. Duggan, who appeared to have been surprised, shouted "don't shoot, sir, I'm coming sir". He was taken into custody, as well as two other men named Quinn and Duggan.

The military believe that Quinn merely dropped in for conversation when passing, a bicycle, his property, having been found outside the out—office. In the course of a search of the premises the troops found two service rifles loaded, a Smith and Western revolver, a typewriter, a large quantity of official note paper and literature, four bayonets, a uniform with two brown and one gold bars (believed to belong to Mr Duggan) which would indicate the rank of the wearer, that of Col—Commandant. There was a fire in the room, and evidence of work carried on as in an ordinary office.

Ambushed

When the troops were returning with their prisoners they ran into an ambush near M Hugh's public—house, on the Galway side of Killeen. About thirty shots were discharged. The troops took cover and replied to the fire, bringing a Lewis gun into action. The ambushers' fire was directed from a hill. None of the National troops were injured, and it is not known whether any member of the attacking party was injured. The firing lasted for about ten minutes, after which the troops proceeded on their way to Galway. Mr Duggan and the other prisoners were lodged in Galway jail.

Mr T Duggan is described as "colonel—commandant" of the irregular forces. He is not a relative of the second prisoner also named Duggan.