All four had been imprisoned by the National Army shortly after the defeat of the IRA’s Four Courts garrison at the beginning of the Civil War. By order of the Free State government, the remains of the executed republicans of the Civil War were eventually handed over to their families. As controversy raged in the Dáil the next day over the executions, O’Higgins made a notable contribution. In the aftermath of the Civil War, O’Higgins emerged as one of the most capable and formidable members of the victorious Free State government. Ironically, despite his conflict over the execution of his former friend, O’Higgins became the government figure most publicly associated with the Civil War executions.

Source: The Irish Times March 21, 2026 15:50 UTC