On the night of 18–19 March 1921, IRA volunteers of the West Waterford flying column ambushed a British military convoy at the Burgery, about a mile and a half northeast of Dungarvan. The convoy included Black and Tans and Royal Irish Constabulary Sergeant Michael Hickey. In overall command of the IRA unit was IRA GHQ Officer George Plunkett, brother of Easter Rising martyr Joseph Mary Plunkett. Also present were West Waterford Brigade Commandant Pax Whelan, ASU leader George Lennon and Mick Mansfield of Old Parish. A British Crossley tender was set on fire and prisoners taken by the IRA, including Sergeant Hickey. Hickey was later executed by an IRA firing squad with a sign reading "police spy" affixed to his tunic. The other prisoners including Captain DV Thomas, the commander of the Bri