Attack on Ruan Barracks
The attack is carried out by the Mid-Clare Brigade of the IRA in the early hours of the morning. They gain entrance as a constable goes for the milk and leaves the back gate open. There were 13 RIC men in the barracks. One RIC man is killed (Constable John Longhead) and two others are wounded (Constables Roddy and Farrelly). Two other constables are reported missing - while one re-appears another (Constable William Carroll), according to Abbott, is not heard from again. However, Barrett claims that Carroll joined the IRA and was wounded at the Monreal ambush on 18th Decemebr 1920. (Barrett in The Kerryman (1955), pg 142). There were 32 IRA men in the attacking party with many others blocking roads in the vicinity. Among the arms captured by the IRA are 15 rifles and 14 revolvers. The captured RIC men are released after they are drilled and give undertaking not to engage in reprisals. Among the IRA men were Joe Barrett, Sean Casey and Ignatius O'Neill. (Barrett gives date as 14th October.)