17 Facts About Liam Deasy

Liam Deasy was an Irish Republican Army officer who fought in the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.

Liam Deasy was the third son of William and Mary Deasy.

Liam Deasy served under Tom Barry in one of the unit's best known action, the Crossbarry Ambush in March 1921.

Liam Deasy opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty which ended the war.

When fighting broke out in Dublin in June 1922, between pro and anti-Treaty forces, Liam Deasy sided with the Anti-Treaty IRA in the ensuing Irish Civil War.

Liam Deasy went on the run in the south-east of the country.

Liam Deasy had his men prepare an ambush for Collins' convoy at Beal na Blath, should it return by the same route it had taken earlier.

However, Collins arrived as the last of Liam Deasy's men were clearing the mine and barricade that had been erected on the road at Beal na Blath.

Liam Deasy later wrote in his memoirs that he profoundly regretted the death of his former commander.

Liam Deasy was aware that the newly formed government planned on wholesale executions and knew that the IRA would retaliate with reprisals.

Liam Deasy had decided that it was now time to end the war.

Liam Deasy signed a document ordering the men under his command to surrender themselves and their arms to the government.

Liam Deasy was spared execution, see: Executions -Irish Civil War.

Some Republicans denounced him as a traitor and a coward for this action, but Liam Deasy argued in his book, Brother against Brother that he was opposed to continuing the civil war anyway and would have called on republicans to surrender whether or not he had been captured.

Liam Deasy took no further part in politics following the end of the civil war.

On 24 November 1927, Liam Deasy married Margaret Mary O'Donoghue; the two would have 3 daughters together.

Liam Deasy died at St Anne's Hospital in Dublin on 20 August 1974.