Patterns of Violence

During the period of conflict the intensity of violence and intimidation experienced by returning soldiers varied considerably depending on locality. The question is whether they were specifically targeted or did their experience simply reflect the patterns of violence experienced by other sectors of the population in different locations? An analysis of IRA violence (1917–23), members of the RIC killed on duty (1916–22), total fatalities (1917–21), and incidents recorded in complaints to the IGC demonstrates a consistency in the geographical distribution of violence and intimidation. The first three metrics focus on those killed and, in the case of IRA violence as measured by Hart, those wounded. O'Halpin's analysis covers total fatalities arising from Irish political violence from January 1917 to December 1921. Hart excludes lesser intimidation such as raids, vandalism, assaults, and robberies because of the difficulty in obtaining accurate information. They are recorded in the IGC files and the four metrics together demonstrate that the range of violence and intimidation from simple robberies to killings was uniform in its geographical variation. Of the two largest provinces in all of the metrics, Munster and Leinster, in both absolute terms and pro rata to the population, the former had around double or more incidents of violence than the latter. Although there are county anomalies (Queen's had comparatively few killings and shootings but records large instances of ‘low level’ intimidation), the main areas of violence were Cork, Tipperary, Clare, Kerry, and Limerick. Incidents of violence in Dublin were high in terms of absolute numbers; pro rata to the population it ranked lower than the national average on all metrics with the exception of all fatalities, in which it was approximately the same. Taking into account population levels, Connaught and Ulster in particular (three counties) had lower levels of violence than the national average on all four metrics. On two of the metrics, RIC killings and IGC incidents, Connaught had a higher ratio of incidents than Leinster pro rata to the population.