Timothy Coughlin
Encyclopedia
Timothy Coughlin (sometimes spelled "Couglan") (1906 - 1928) was a volunteer
in the Irish Republican Army, mainly known for his part in assassinating Kevin O'Higgins
in 1927 and for the controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death in 1928.
, Dublin. While only in his teens during the Irish War of Independence
, he took up arms against the Black and Tans
and later against the Free State
forces in the Irish Civil War
.
As a known member of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA, he was interned by the "Free Staters" during the Civil War, but if anything became even more active and determined to continue the fighting though his side had lost the war. Together with two fellow-detainees - Archie Doyle
and Bill Gannon
- he took part in forming a secret "vengeance grouping". The three vowed that once free of imprisonment they would take revenge on their opponents, whom they considered traitors to the Irish cause.
Most such private revenge pacts were broken up by the IRA leadership when it reorganized following 1924, but Coughlin and his two fellow conspirators persisted and carried through their deadly aim. On July 10, 1927, the three surprised Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins
on his way to Mass
at the Booterstown Avenue side of Cross Avenue in Blackrock, County Dublin
and shot him down. (By one version, as he lay dying O'Higgins declared his forgiveness of his killers.)
O'Higgins was especially hated by IRA members for having ordered the executions of seventy-seven of their fellows during the Civil War, an act for which he outspokenly took responsibility and refused to express any remorse. Moreover, he was a dominant member of the Free State government and the conspirators had good reasons to believe that his death would weaken it.
Coughlin and his fellows managed to escape after the O'Higgins assassination, but he was killed six months later, on the evening of January 28, 1928, in circumstances which remain controversial up to the present. On that day he and another IRA "volunteer", who may have been Archie Doyle
, were on Dublin's Dartry Road, opposite 'Woodpark Lodge', at the time the home of Sean Harling - a former IRA comrade-in-arms turned government informer.
Harling later claimed that upon his arrival home he noticed Coughlin and Doyle, that one of them shot at him, that he pulled his gun while running and shot back in self-defence, and that later he went out to investigate and found Coughlin's body lying in the street. His version was accepted by the tribunal which looked into the case, and he was not charged.
However, the IRA claimed at the time - and radical Irish nationalists continue to claim up to the present - that Coughlin was in fact ambushed and in effect extrajudicially executed. This version is especially supported by the autopsy carried out by Dr. Wilfred Lane which "amongst other anomalies, discovered that the IRA man died as a result of being shot in the back of his head". Also, the doctor found a cigarette butt in his mouth, which again indicated he had been caught unaware and killed, and tenants on Dartry Road testified that there had been unusual police activity that evening and that they heard more shots than mentioned in Harling's account.
The Dublin IRA Brigade admitted that it did intend to liquidate Harling, who had betrayed IRA weapons dumps to the government and who - using his former Republican credentials - was agitating among IRA supporters and calling for "a change in the IRA leadership", allegedly on orders from his government "controller" David Neligan
.
However, the IRA claimed that Coughlin and Doyle had been engaged in preliminary surveillance only, and had no intention to attack Harling that evening. This is supported by the fact that, even according to Harling's version, they did not open fire until he noticed them - even though they were in place, at a location overlooking his house, before he arrived.
Whatever the truth of the matter, in the wake of this affair Harling - feeling in danger of his life - asked and got Neligan's help in departing for America
.
He later returned to Ireland and joined the civil service.
Volunteer (Irish republican)
Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol., is a term used by a number of Irish republican paramilitary organisations to describe their members. Among these have been the various forms of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army...
in the Irish Republican Army, mainly known for his part in assassinating Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin Christopher O'Higgins was an Irish politician who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Justice. He was part of early nationalist Sinn Féin, before going on to become a prominent member of Cumann na nGaedheal. O'Higgins initiated the An Garda Síochána police force...
in 1927 and for the controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death in 1928.
Biography
The second-eldest in a family of nine, Coughlin lived with his parents in the family home in InchicoreInchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
, Dublin. While only in his teens during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, he took up arms against the Black and Tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
and later against the Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
forces in the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
.
As a known member of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA, he was interned by the "Free Staters" during the Civil War, but if anything became even more active and determined to continue the fighting though his side had lost the war. Together with two fellow-detainees - Archie Doyle
Archie Doyle
Archie Doyle was one of three anti-Treaty members of the IRA who on July 10, 1927 assassinated the Irish Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins. He had had a long subsequent career in the organisation's ranks....
and Bill Gannon
Bill Gannon (Irish Republican)
Bill Gannon was a well-known militant of the Irish Republican Army and later a leading member of the Communist Party of Ireland.- IRA career and the O'Higgins Assassination :Gannon had fought in the Irish War of Independence...
- he took part in forming a secret "vengeance grouping". The three vowed that once free of imprisonment they would take revenge on their opponents, whom they considered traitors to the Irish cause.
Most such private revenge pacts were broken up by the IRA leadership when it reorganized following 1924, but Coughlin and his two fellow conspirators persisted and carried through their deadly aim. On July 10, 1927, the three surprised Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin Christopher O'Higgins was an Irish politician who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Justice. He was part of early nationalist Sinn Féin, before going on to become a prominent member of Cumann na nGaedheal. O'Higgins initiated the An Garda Síochána police force...
on his way to Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
at the Booterstown Avenue side of Cross Avenue in Blackrock, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
and shot him down. (By one version, as he lay dying O'Higgins declared his forgiveness of his killers.)
O'Higgins was especially hated by IRA members for having ordered the executions of seventy-seven of their fellows during the Civil War, an act for which he outspokenly took responsibility and refused to express any remorse. Moreover, he was a dominant member of the Free State government and the conspirators had good reasons to believe that his death would weaken it.
Coughlin and his fellows managed to escape after the O'Higgins assassination, but he was killed six months later, on the evening of January 28, 1928, in circumstances which remain controversial up to the present. On that day he and another IRA "volunteer", who may have been Archie Doyle
Archie Doyle
Archie Doyle was one of three anti-Treaty members of the IRA who on July 10, 1927 assassinated the Irish Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins. He had had a long subsequent career in the organisation's ranks....
, were on Dublin's Dartry Road, opposite 'Woodpark Lodge', at the time the home of Sean Harling - a former IRA comrade-in-arms turned government informer.
Harling later claimed that upon his arrival home he noticed Coughlin and Doyle, that one of them shot at him, that he pulled his gun while running and shot back in self-defence, and that later he went out to investigate and found Coughlin's body lying in the street. His version was accepted by the tribunal which looked into the case, and he was not charged.
However, the IRA claimed at the time - and radical Irish nationalists continue to claim up to the present - that Coughlin was in fact ambushed and in effect extrajudicially executed. This version is especially supported by the autopsy carried out by Dr. Wilfred Lane which "amongst other anomalies, discovered that the IRA man died as a result of being shot in the back of his head". Also, the doctor found a cigarette butt in his mouth, which again indicated he had been caught unaware and killed, and tenants on Dartry Road testified that there had been unusual police activity that evening and that they heard more shots than mentioned in Harling's account.
The Dublin IRA Brigade admitted that it did intend to liquidate Harling, who had betrayed IRA weapons dumps to the government and who - using his former Republican credentials - was agitating among IRA supporters and calling for "a change in the IRA leadership", allegedly on orders from his government "controller" David Neligan
David Neligan
David Neligan , known by his soubriquet "The Spy in the Castle", was an important figure involved in the Irish War of Independence 1919-1921, and subsequently became Director of Intelligence for the Irish Army after the Irish Civil War -Early life:David Neligan was born at Templeglantine, Limerick,...
.
However, the IRA claimed that Coughlin and Doyle had been engaged in preliminary surveillance only, and had no intention to attack Harling that evening. This is supported by the fact that, even according to Harling's version, they did not open fire until he noticed them - even though they were in place, at a location overlooking his house, before he arrived.
Whatever the truth of the matter, in the wake of this affair Harling - feeling in danger of his life - asked and got Neligan's help in departing for America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He later returned to Ireland and joined the civil service.