Madam, - I write concerning the interesting letters on the death of Cathal Brugha from Charles Lysaght (August 22nd) and Brian C. Clohissey, (August 28th) who raised questions concerning the bullet, or bullets, that killed him and the level of first aid he received.
The following information from the Dublin Coroner's Court appears relevant. The inquest jury found that "Cathal Brugha died in the Mater Hospital on 7 July 1922 from: Shock and Haemorrhage caused by a bullet fired by a person unknown". They came to this verdict on July 8th, after listening to the evidence of three medical doctors.
Dr Patrick Smyth, assistant-surgeon at the Mater, said he saw Cathal Brugha on Wednesday evening, July 5th. Brugha was "suffering from a bullet wound in the left thigh". He operated on Brugha and recorded that there was an entry and exit wound in the thigh, the latter being "about four inches wide". In Dr Smyth's opinion, "the sole cause of death was the bullet wound in the thigh". There were "no other wounds", although the scars of previous wounds were visible.
Dr Alexander Blayney, a visiting surgeon who was called upon to assist in the operation, fully agreed with the evidence of Dr Smyth. Certain differences of opinion appeared when, in the absence of a bullet, they were asked to speculate as to which type of gun, rifle or revolver, might have fired the fatal shot. Dr David Cotter, who was also at the operation, said Brugha was admitted to the Mater at 8.30pm on July 5th and was operated on an hour later. Brugha's "great sciatic nerve was almost completely divided" and part of his femoral artery had been ruptured. None of the three doctors made any reference to the lack of first aid as contributing in any way to his death.
With specific reference to the question of first aid and the role of the St John's Ambulance Brigade, the public lecture given by Major Florence O'Donoghue on Brugha's life and death (given in 1966 and published in 1972) is relevant. O'Donoghue recounted that when, on the afternoon of Wednesday July 5th, Brugha left the Granville Hotel and entered Thomas Lane, "he was struck by a single bullet".
He added that "as he collapsed he was attended to by Doctors Joseph Brennan and Sean Geraghty, who did everything possible to help him. Two members of the Red Cross helped and he was moved to the side of the lane near a telegraph post. An ambulance took him to the Mater Hospital where, at 10.45am on Friday July 7th, he died. Where 25 wounds had failed in 1916, a single bullet ended the life of this noble man." - Yours, etc,
Dr BRIAN P.MURPHY OSB,
Glenstal Abbey,
Murroe,
Co Limerick.