Sir, In a review of my book Michael Collins and the women in his life (January 11th), your reviewer poses the question as to whether Michael Collins and Lady Lavery "had an affair".
In my book I point out that from my research Hazel Lavery was involved in espionage for Collins and that while there were romantic passes in her letters to him (those generally chosen by other writers), the vital messages for obvious reasons were the important ones and were hidden in a form of code or abbreviation:
Emmet Dalton whom I interviewed said of Collins and his intelligence gathering that "Mick Collins would never put himself in a situation where he could be blackmailed Furthermore, Todd Andrews, whom I also interviewed, confirmed the IRA's knowledge, at the time, of Lady Lavery as an agent for Collins. At the end of May 1922, when Michael Collins arrived in London to discuss the Collins/de Valera pact with the London government, he travelled from Euston Station to Downing Street in the Lavery's car. Collins himself in a letter to Kitty wrote: "Some of the correspondents recognised my friend but the story was too good!" It became headline news: "M. Collins in Downing Street with his sweetheart."
When the rumour hit the Irish scene, Todd Andrews was among those asked by Brugha and Stack to investigate Collins's involvement with this "English lady". His opponents were prepared to have Collins shot, according to Todd Andrews, "if there was any truth in the rumour that he was bedding Lady Lavery".
It should be noted, however, that her work for Collins and that of other women as his secret agents proved invaluable. - Yours, etc.,
Cusack Road,
Ennis, Co Clare.