Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 18486Fatal shooting · Co. Tipperary · 26 Jan 1921

Anniversary of 1921 fatal shooting of James Devanney in Kilruane, Tipperary

James Devanney, an IRA member from Pallas, Toomevara, was fatally wounded on 26 January 1921 near O'Meara's Pub in Kilruane, County Tipperary. He was one of four IRA volunteers drinking in the pub who were fired on by a party of Black and Tans and RIC as they tried to escape. He was wounded in the thigh while crossing a field behind the pub and bled to death a short distance away, while the other volunteers escaped. The sources report no arrest, charge, court case or sentence. The latest development is a Tipperary Live history piece published on 26 January 2024 marking the anniversary, which notes a roadside memorial erected near the site some years earlier.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • James Devanney, an IRA member from Pallas, Toomevara, was fatally wounded.
  • He bled to death a short distance from the pub.
Where
He was fatally wounded near O'Meara's Pub in Kilruane, County Tipperary.
When
The shooting took place on 26 January 1921.
Cause
  • He was one of four IRA volunteers drinking in the pub who were fired on by a party of Black and Tans and RIC as they tried to escape.
  • He was wounded in the thigh as he crossed a field behind the pub.
Weapon
The sources do not specify the weapon used.
Other details
  • The other IRA volunteers escaped.
  • A roadside memorial near the site was erected on the road behind the pub a number of years ago.
  • The latest source is a Tipperary Live history piece published on 26 January 2024 marking the anniversary of the shooting.
Investigation
The sources report no investigation, arrest or charge.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJames Devanney, an IRA member from Pallas, Toomevara, was fatally wounded. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatJames bled to death a short distance from the pub. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereHe was fatally wounded near O'Meara's Pub in Kilruane. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe shooting took place on 26 January 1921. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • causeBlack and Tans and RIC fired on the IRA volunteers as they tried to escape from the pub. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • causeJames was wounded in the thigh as he crossed a field behind the pub. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe other IRA volunteers escaped. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherA roadside memorial was erected on the road behind the pub in Kilruane. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Jan2024
    Othertipperarylive.ie, first report
    Tipperary History: Today marks anniversary of fatal shooting of James Devanney

    Historical piece on a 1921 killing, not a recent incident. It matches none of the existing 2024 cases.

    victim, James Devanney, irish (judged from name)James Devanneysuspect