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I was born in Castleblaney, Ireland, in 1892
In 1917 I joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA), serving with distinction in the Anglo-Irish War (1919-1921), rising to become Director of the Army in 1921.
After the conflict I become the commissioner of the newly formed Irish police, earning great credit for installing discipline and purpose into the new force.
I became increasingly involved in far-right and anti-communist politics, and in 1933 I became the leader of the Army Comrades Association, popularly known as the “Blueshirts”, a far right street organisation.
After this was banned, I formed an Irish brigade to fight for the fascist forces of Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and towards the end of my life sought to build Irish links with Nazi Germany.

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