The war was fought over the Free State’s acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. Thus the Free State element and the Labour Party had 75 seats, or more than double the anti-Treaty’s 36 seats. If the Free State did not do it, the British would obviously do so themselves. One of the more distinctive aspects of the civil war was the executions of 77 Republican prisoners by the Free State side. The Free State authorities appeared to know what they wanted and were determined to have their way.

Source: Irish Examiner September 11, 2021 12:56 UTC