Vincent Fovargue
Encyclopedia
Vincent Patrick Fovargue (1901–1921) was a member of the Dublin Irish Republican Army
(IRA) during the Irish War of Independence
. Under duress after his capture, Fovargue turned informer. As a reward, he was freed in a staged escape, but was subsequently found and killed by the IRA in England.
On 2 April 1921, a boy walking on the golf links of the Ashford Manor Golf Club in Ashford, Middlesex discovered the body of Fovargue, who had been shot through the chest. Discovered near the corpse was a small piece of paper on which had been scribbled in blue pencil the words "Let spies and traitors beware – IRA".
The execution was identical in its hallmarks to those of dozens of other alleged traitors and informers who had been killed in County Cork
and other parts of Ireland up to this time. The difference was this was the first occasion that this had been done in Britain
.
Fovargue, from Dublin, was only 20 years old and had previously been a company officer with the 3rd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA in the Ranelagh
area. He had been captured by the authorities in Dublin. Under interrogation or torture he gave away information that resulted in the arrest of the other members of his unit a few days later. In return for this information, the British allowed him to escape during a staged ambush in Dublin's South Circular Road. This attempted ruse however did not go unnoticed by Michael Collins
' agents in Dublin Castle
. On the night of the escape David Neligan
was in the castle office when McNamara passed him a telephone message on a police form. The message issued by the British Military Headquarters stated that a "Sinn Féin
" suspect named Fovargue had escaped from three intelligence officers in a car whilst on route to prison. It gave a description of his appearance and asked that the British military be notified in the event of his recapture by the Dublin Metropolitan Police
. Neither man was fooled by this, as Neligan explained:
The two men passed a copy of the message to Collins the next day. Meanwhile, Fovargue had fled to England where he appears to have adopted the alias of Richard Staunton in an attempt to either evade detection by his former comrades or deceive new acquaintances into taking him into their confidence. Fovargue had in fact been sent to England by Colonel Ormonde Winter
as an agent to try and penetrate the organisation in England. Winter, codenamed "O", was a British Intelligence officer brought over to Dublin Castle in May 1920.
Fovargue's true identity was soon discovered. On 2 April 1921, he was taken out to Ashford Golf Course in the Middlesex
countryside on the outskirts of London
and shot dead. It is unclear who actually carried out the execution. Rex Taylor
stated that it was Joe O'Sullivan
; this is supported by Kelleher and Brennan. David Neligan stated that Reginald Dunne
carried out the execution and that Dunne was accompanied by Joe Shanahan
. Shanahan later told Neligan that on the way back into London, their car was stopped by a policeman, who informed them that their tail light was not working.
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA) 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...
. Under duress after his capture, Fovargue turned informer. As a reward, he was freed in a staged escape, but was subsequently found and killed by the IRA in England.
On 2 April 1921, a boy walking on the golf links of the Ashford Manor Golf Club in Ashford, Middlesex discovered the body of Fovargue, who had been shot through the chest. Discovered near the corpse was a small piece of paper on which had been scribbled in blue pencil the words "Let spies and traitors beware – IRA".
The execution was identical in its hallmarks to those of dozens of other alleged traitors and informers who had been killed in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
and other parts of Ireland up to this time. The difference was this was the first occasion that this had been done in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Fovargue, from Dublin, was only 20 years old and had previously been a company officer with the 3rd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA in the Ranelagh
Ranelagh
Ranelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:...
area. He had been captured by the authorities in Dublin. Under interrogation or torture he gave away information that resulted in the arrest of the other members of his unit a few days later. In return for this information, the British allowed him to escape during a staged ambush in Dublin's South Circular Road. This attempted ruse however did not go unnoticed by Michael Collins
Michael Collins
- Politics :* Michael Collins , Irish Labour party politician, Lord Mayor Of Dublin 1977–1978* Michael Collins , Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician...
' agents in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
. On the night of the escape 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,...
was in the castle office when McNamara passed him a telephone message on a police form. The message issued by the British Military Headquarters stated that a "Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
" suspect named Fovargue had escaped from three intelligence officers in a car whilst on route to prison. It gave a description of his appearance and asked that the British military be notified in the event of his recapture by the Dublin Metropolitan Police
Dublin Metropolitan Police
The Dublin Metropolitan Police was the police force of Dublin, Ireland, from 1836 to 1925, when it amalgamated into the new Garda Síochána.-19th century:...
. Neither man was fooled by this, as Neligan explained:
The two men passed a copy of the message to Collins the next day. Meanwhile, Fovargue had fled to England where he appears to have adopted the alias of Richard Staunton in an attempt to either evade detection by his former comrades or deceive new acquaintances into taking him into their confidence. Fovargue had in fact been sent to England by Colonel Ormonde Winter
Ormonde Winter
Brigadier-General Sir Ormonde de l'Épée Winter KBE CB CMG DSO was a British Army officer and author who after service in World War I was responsible for intelligence operations in Ireland during the Anglo-Irish War...
as an agent to try and penetrate the organisation in England. Winter, codenamed "O", was a British Intelligence officer brought over to Dublin Castle in May 1920.
Fovargue's true identity was soon discovered. On 2 April 1921, he was taken out to Ashford Golf Course in the Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
countryside on the outskirts of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and shot dead. It is unclear who actually carried out the execution. Rex Taylor
Rex Taylor
Rex Taylor was an American screenwriter. He wrote for 84 films between 1916 and 1966.He was born in Iowa and died in San Pedro, California.-Selected filmography:* Junior G-Men...
stated that it was Joe O'Sullivan
Joe O'Sullivan
Joe O'Sullivan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Beara and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s.-References:...
; this is supported by Kelleher and Brennan. David Neligan stated that Reginald Dunne
Reginald Dunne
Reginald Dunne was the second in command of the London branch of the IRA who was hanged after killing Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson.Dunne attended St Ignatius College in Tottenham, North London...
carried out the execution and that Dunne was accompanied by Joe Shanahan
Joe Shanahan
Joe Shanahan is the founder and owner of Metro Chicago and Smart Bar in Chicago, Illinois. He is also the part owner of the Daily Bar and Grill, as well as Double Door....
. Shanahan later told Neligan that on the way back into London, their car was stopped by a policeman, who informed them that their tail light was not working.