Michael Dockery shot dead in Boyle.

There will be a ceremony of remembrance on the grounds of the Plunkett Home on Saturday 2nd July at 1pm.

Brigadier Michael Dockery commanded the Pro-Treaty Troops in the Workhouse, Boyle (The Plunkett Home is on the site now). Dockery was arranging to turn the entire Boyle operation over to the Republicans “lock, stock and barrel”

On the night of July 2nd 1922, Dockery approached the Republican position to meet with the leaders there as was common procedure at the time. This was just four days after the start of the Civil War. The sentry on duty challenged Dockery who uttered a previously agreed password, not knowing that the password had been changed since July 1st. The sentry, not recognising the password, fired at the supposed intruder. Dockery was hit by the bullet and fatally wounded.

Brigadier Michael Dockery was the first casualty of the civil war in Roscommon. A few days later, his burial took place in Ballinderry Cemetery, Fourmilehouse.