An extract from the statement of Éanna Mac Cuinneagáin's father written for the Military History Bureau, which outlined his activities as a member of the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood).

"I, James Cunningham a joiner, found myself working on a housing scheme in West Bromich, early in 1920, in company with a number of other joiners of Irish extraction. Most of us had been connected to the volunteer movement at home ... Our main object was to get arms and send them home."

Outlining the ways in which he found places that were considered 'safe' to store arms he recalls ...

"another dump which we had there [in Birmingham] was in the cellar of an all-night restaurant run by Dan's sister. All the policemen in that area frequented it for coffee and often Dan and I arrived there after a footslogging of several miles, to find the coffee room packed with Bobbies.

"I remember an occasion when Dan and I were coming back to this base around 2 o'clock a.m., each of us loaded to capacity (I think I had eight Lee-Enfields, each weighing over a stone, slung over my shoulder by means of a rope with the guns hanging down on each side and covered with a heavy coat). I had my hands in my pockets and tried to look as unconcerned and as comfortable as possible, although I felt far from it. The load was heavy but as the night was hot, the heavy coat made things well-nigh intolerable.

"A Bobby, who was standing under a street lamp and could see us for a couple of hundred yards coming towards him, halted us. I suggested to Dan that we make a run for it, knowing quite well that I would be unable to run 50 yards, but at least I thought it held some hope. Dan, however, counselled calmness. 'I know this fellow,' he said. 'Keep calm, say nothing and I will do the talking.' We both crossed the street to where the policeman stood on the opposite side. Then a long conversation took place about that day's racing at Uttoxetor and other race meetings, and it went on until the weight of the load I was carrying became almost unbearable.

"My ordeal ended with each of them giving the other several tips for the next day's race and we continued on our way. Both of us had to rest for a long time in the cellar that night to recover from the fright and the fatigue."