Revolutionary Justice

(The War of Independence Part XVI)

This episode introduces two forgotten but remarkable revolutionaries - Margaret and Rose Quinn. These two sisters operated a secret IRA prison from their home in a Dublin suburb. This was part of wider attempts to solve the problem of growing lawlessness in Ireland by the summer of 1920.

As British authority disintegrated in rural areas someone had to maintain law and order. This would see a revolutionary justice system established, however it raised fundamental questions for the revolutionaries - where did crime end and revolutionary activity begin. Resolving this would bring major divisions in the Irish republican movement to the fore as the rich and poor had very different visions of what constituted a just society.

Sound - Jason Looney

Additional Research - Sam McGrath

Additional Narrations - Aidan Crowe & Therese Murray