Verey light signal pistol, Ballytrain RIC Barracks, 1920

Verey light signal pistol, Ballytrain RIC Barracks, 1920

One of the first actions of an IRA raid on a police barracks was to cut communications, leaving the officers inside with no option but to call for reinforcements with a flare gun. This Verey light signal pistol was captured by ten men, led by Eoin O’Duffy, of the IRA Co. Monaghan Brigade in an arms raid on the Ballytrain RIC Barracks on the night of 14^th February 1920. They mined the gable wall of the barracks with explosives before engaging the police in a four hour gun battle. When the RIC refused to surrender the Brigade exploded the mine, forcing the RIC to give up the fight. This was one of the first barracks raid of the War of Independence.