The Death Of Cornelius Crean

The War Of Independence

On April 25th 1920, Tom Crean’s older brother Cornelius, who was an RIC officer, was shot dead in an IRA ambush, at Upton Industrial School near Bandon, Co. Cork, during Ireland’s War Of Independence.

Cornelius Crean was the fifth child of Patrick and Catherine Crean, and was born on 27th September 1871. Like his brother Tom, Cornelius was made of tough stuff, had played rugby for Cork Constitution, and had accumulated 28 years of service in the RIC.
On that fateful day he was a member of a three man foot patrol that was ambushed by members of the Third West Cork Brigade. The only survivor, Constable Power later told the inquest that Constable Patrick McGoldrick had stopped to light his pipe, when he was suddenly shot dead. Continue Reading →