THE arrest of the Sinn Féin army leaders in Enniskillen and throughout the County came as a complete surprise.

The authorities laid their plans well, the secret kept and nearly everyone wanted was locked up by mid-day.

The psychological moment was 4am. It was sometime after dawn and the morning light was quite strong when the force of B Special constables told off for special duty silently took up their positions after a long and weary wait.

Around Enniskillen men were posted to prevent any egress or ingress of people, and along the shores there were patrols to prevent any escape by water.

A party of A Class Specials to whom the duty of arresting the ‘army chiefs’ was entrusted, made a beginning in Sedan Terrace, where Mr. Anthony Maxwell and Mr. P.J. Burns, were made prisoners.

Working on up the town Mr. Cahir Healy was next on the list. Mr. Healy is a poet, a good writer, a member of the Guardians and the superintendent of an English Insurance Company. He is one of the pioneers of the Sinn Féin movement and was an exponent of its doctrine when it was not so popular as today.

Mr. Healy readily responded to the demand to get up and dress and surrendered. Mr. Frank Duffy, and Mr. Thos. Cox were also arrested.

Arriving in High Street, three drapery assistants were taken, Mr. John Carley, Mr. Felix Hackett and Mr. Terence Fitzpatrick. In Paget Square four men were arrested including Mr. John Nethercott, a member of the Urban Council and a prominent Gaelic Leaguer; and other minor lights followed in Wellington Place and Queen Street. In the Brook Street area Mr. John Sheehan, a prominent officer in the I.R.A, was taken away; as was Mr. Jack McNulty, later in the day.

Mr. John Cassidy, Carrigans, was brought in in a Crossley car but Mr. Thomas Corrigan was not at his home in Belnaleck. Several houses were visited in Enniskillen where he is accustomed to stay at night and as the police were leaving Mrs. McDonagh’s of Cross Street, Mr. Corrigan was met on the street and taken into custody.

These men include the brains of Sinn Féin locally. There are many other prominent Sinn Féiners, but the authorities look upon them as unimportant and small fry.