Shooting of Sir Henry Wilson
Wilson was shot by Reggie Dunne (O/C London Battalion IRA) and Joseph O'Sullivan. They tried to run away but were caught. (Their attempted escape was not helped by the fact that O'Sullivan had a wooden leg.) Both Dunne and O'Sullivan were tried at the Old Bailey and received death sentences on the 18th July. They were subsequently hanged on August 10th. Hopkinson adduces some oral testimony that Collins was involved in the planning of the shooting; Curran also considers this evidence and concludes “there is no conclusive proof that Collins ordered the assassination” but Phoenix says that it was carried out “almost certainly at Collins’ direct instigation”. Joe Sweeney says that he met Collins on the day of the shooting and asked him if it was an official job. Sweeney says that Collins answered ‘yes’. Sweeney was pro-Treaty.