The IRA's North Longford Flying Column, 21 strong, led by Seán Mac Eoin, had been formed in late 1920. In that year they had killed 4 RIC policemen. In November, a company of Auxiliaries - a paramilitary police force formed out of ex-officers - had been stationed in the county to put down the local IRA, they were reinforced in January 1921. Whereas previously the IRA had tried to operate in relatively large numbers, often attacking police barracks, from this point on, their GHQ in Dublin ordered smaller but more frequent attacks to be made.