In Ballylongford, two unarmed RIC men James Coughlan and William Muir, had been abducted by the local IRA about 1 Nov 1920. The local Crown forces, a mixture of RIC and Black and Tans let it be known that, “They would raze Ballylongford to the ground if the two policemen were not released within 48 hours”. The two were eventually returned, horribly beaten. Coughlan was blindfolded, put in a truck and then driven to a field, he thought to his execution, but in fact was released and told he had a 20 minute walk back to Ballylongford barracks. Muir, the other kidnapped policeman, later that month took his own life.
http://www.cairogang.com/police-killed/muir/muir.html
1890 Apr 19. Born Edinburgh in RIC register. His Death Cert says aged 27 though indicating 1893/4
1919 Feb 22 Married Lanark
1920 Sep 8 Enlisted in RIC # 73036. Ex-soldier & Stone Sawyer
1920 Oct 1 Posted to Kerry
1920 Nov 1. Two RIC men (Constable William Muir and Constable Coughlan) were captured by the Ballylongford Company of the IRA. Constable Muir was brought to Moyvane where he were guarded by the local company. The British Army issued an ultimatum that Ballylongford would be razed to the ground if two men were not released and the Kerry No. 1 Brigade HQ ordered their release. Constable Muir later committed suicide (27th December 1920).
Five policemen were killed and two kidnapped near Tralee, and police set the town hall on fire. Then followed the so called siege of Tralee
The military intervened and cordoned off the police while the fire brigade extinguished the flames. The next day the police set about the place with hatchets, crowbars, petrol and bombs. They plastered the walls with a message which read: "Take notice that all business premises, shops, etc., in Tralee must be kept closed and work suspended until such times as the police in Sinn Fein custody are returned. Anyone disobeying this order will be dealt with in a drastic manner."
The town was in a state of siege and, at the end of the week, many people were on the verge of starvation. A French correspondent reported: "I do not remember even during the war having seen people so profoundly terrified as those of this little town of Tralee." "The town was as deserted and doleful as if the Angel of Death has passed through it," M. de Marcella wrote. "Not a living soul in the streets. All the shops shut and the bolts hastily fastened. All work was suspended."
William Muir was released after about 3 days
Bakeries were allowed to open on the 8th November, and on the 9th the military took over and posted up a notice: "Business may be resumed in Tralee tomorrow in view of the hardships imposed on loyal subjects. Other means will be resorted to for the recovery of the two police in Sinn Fein custody. Public houses will remain open until the usual hour."
1920 Dec 27. William Muir commits suicide by cutting his throat with a razor.
1921 Jan/Mar death registered at Listowel for William Muir.
1921 Feb Coughlan gave an account of their ordeal
