‘Peace is to-day declared’

A peace on paper - Part III

The ink was barely dry on the ‘Mutual Agreement for Peace’ before it disintegrated. Within weeks, Collins had sanctioned overnight raids across the border into Fermanagh and Tyrone. Forty-two prominent loyalists were kidnapped and held ransom for the release of IRA prisoners. On 11 February 1922 at the station in Clones, Co. Monaghan, the IRA confronted…