Christopher William O'Sullivan

The Cork Examiner reported that he was shot dead in a field adjoining the Model Farm Road near Dennehy’s Cross on 26 May 1921. The doctor at the inquest reported finding bullet wounds in the left ear and the forehead. A note or document found on the body stated, ‘Dear [wife], I am going to my God.’ Buried in St Joseph’s Cemetery in Cork city after a funeral Mass in St Patrick’s Church, he left behind ‘broken-hearted parents, wife, brothers, and sisters’.

He had been named by David Nagle, who then shot by the IRA

1898 Apr 19. Birth

 

1901 census at Brown St, Cork

 

1911 census at ?

1917 Oct 22 discharged with shell shock. Born 1898. (Military Pension form gives June rather than May for death)

Served as 77382 Driver Christopher O’Sullivan, 94th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery killed in Ireland. 94a Clare Place, Blarney Street, Cork.

1920 Dec 23. Married

1921 May 27 Shot in Cork

IRA Witness Statement About the end of the Summer, 1920, a raid for mails was made at Waterfall, which resulted in the capture of a letter from Nagle, a local postman, to a man by the name of O'Sullivan, an ex-British soldier. They arrested Nagle, who gave all information, also a photo of O'Sullivan and details of the place in Cork City where he was to meet him. Leo and some others went there instead of Nagle and shot him dead. Later Nagle was also tried and also shot. Nagle had been in the R.I.C. and actually had a brother still in the Force and stationed at Tuckey Street Barracks in Cork City.

Compensation Commission Register says that British liability was accepted, and £1,850 in compensation was awarded. See Register of Compensation Commission (Ireland) Cases of Private Persons (CO 905/15, TNA).

Shot by IRA as British spies