The Rundown: Amazon is reportedly weighing a breakup with the USPS, exploring plans to yank the billions of packages it routes through the postal service and rely solely on its own delivery empire as early as next year.
The details:
Amazon is considering ending its long-running delivery contract with the U.S. Postal Service and shifting those volumes into its internal logistics network.Discussions hinge on what happens after the current deal expires in Oct. 2026, potentially unwinding a partnership that helped transform USPS into an e-commerce workhorse.Amazon has already built a massive in-house delivery arm, including planes, Rivian vans, and drones, and is evaluating whether it can fully cover USPS’s role.Under the current agreement, Amazon accounts for roughly 7.5% of USPS’s revenue in 2025.
Why it matters: If Amazon pulls the plug, USPS could lose billions in revenue at a moment when it faces privatization pressure.The loss could degrade mail service nationwide while transforming Amazon from retail giant into a dominant parcel logistics backbone, reshaping how millions of Americans receive packages.
The Rundown: OpenAI just published new research on a technique called “Confessions” that trains models to produce a second, honesty-only output — where the model reports rule violations, shortcuts, or deceptive workarounds.
The details:
After generating a response, the model writes a separate confession report listing all instructions it received and whether it actually followed them.Admissions carry no penalty, with the model earning ‘rewards’ for truthful self-reporting even if the original answer was misleading or gamed the grader.In stress tests on GPT-5 Thinking, ‘false negative’ cases where the model broke rules and hid it occurred just 4.4% of the time. OpenAI said the Confessions research does not prevent misaligned behavior, but helps surface it as another tool to leverage in a stack of AI safety methods.
Why it matters: Visibility into model behavior is improving, but the systems themselves are improving faster. Confessions give researchers a way to catch shortcuts and deception early, though the real test is whether interpretability can keep pace as systems grow more sophisticated and subsequently harder to test and control.
‘The Crawlers’ were the lowest of the British poor. This elderly widow is sitting outside a tailor’s shop, holding a baby while its mother works. She was given a cup of tea and a slice of bread daily in return.
The photograph titled “The Crawlers” was taken in 1877 and captures one of the harshest realities of Victorian poverty in London. The term “crawlers” referred to some of the most destitute people in society — often the elderly, widowed, or disabled, who were too frail to work and forced to rely on scraps of charity to survive. They were called “crawlers” because many were so weakened by hunger, disease, or age that they could only move slowly, often crawling or dragging themselves along the streets.
In this haunting image, an elderly widow sits outside a tailor’s shop, cradling an infant. The baby’s mother, likely a working-class woman struggling to make ends meet, left her child in the widow’s care while she labored inside. The widow’s payment for this exhausting responsibility was meager: a cup of tea and a slice of bread a day. Such arrangements were common, as survival for the poorest relied on fragile networks of mutual aid and the charity of others.
Professor John Crown launches a podcast “Second Opinions, with John Crown”
We are delighted to announce that Professor John Crown has recently launched a podcast interviewing stalwarts in cancer research both locally and globally.
First up, is an interview with Dr. Dennis Slamon, an American oncologist and chief of the division of Hematology-Oncology at UCLCA. Dr Slamon is best known for his work identifying the HER2/neu oncogene that is amplified in 25–33% of breast cancer patients and the resulting treatment trastuzumab or Herceptin.
A long time friend and colleague of Prof Crown and the recipient of the Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2020 for his work in Science, Technology & Innovation, Dr Slamon has had a great impact on cancer research not only in the US but here in Ireland. Thousands of patients owe their lives to his efforts.
To listen to what inspired him to become a doctor and how his work has impacted him and continues to make a difference for cancer patients click on the following link https://secondopinions.podbean.com/e/episode-1-dr-dennis-slamon/ and subscribe to the podcast to hear about future interviews with other heroes of cancer research.
Geoffrey Hinton, the ‘Godfather of AI,’ joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to talk about how the technology he helped build could transform our lives… and also threaten our very survival.
Computer scientist and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to talk about artificial intelligence, the technology transforming our society faster than anything humans have ever built. The question is: how fast is too fast? Hinton is known as the “Godfather of AI.” He helped build the neural networks that made today’s generative AI tools possible and that work earned him the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics. But recently, he’s turned from a tech evangelist to a whistleblower, warning that the technology he helped create will displace millions of jobs and eventually destroy humanity itself. The Nobel laureate joins Ian to discuss some of the biggest threats from AI: Mass job loss, widening inequality, social unrest, autonomous weapons, and eventually something far more dire: AI that becomes smarter than humans and might not let us turn it off. But he also sees a path forward: if we can model good behavior and program ‘maternal instincts’ into AI, could we avoid a worst-case scenario?
“They’re going to be much smarter than us. We are not going to be fully in control anymore,” says Hinton, “We have to somehow figure out how to make them care more about us than they do about themselves.”
Subscribe to the GZERO World Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they’re published
“I’m 49. 2025 has been the best year of my life… until two nights ago. For 24 straight hours I had constant, razor-blade-level pain in my stomach. Couldn’t lie flat, could only get minor relief sitting on the floor with knees to chest. No fever, no blood, nothing dramatic on the outside. Went to the ER once, doctor pressed my belly, said it was soft, gave me Somac (acid blocker) and sent me home. Pain never dropped below an 8/10. Came home, opened a year-long chat I have with Grok, described everything. Grok immediately flagged perforated ulcer or atypical appendicitis, told me the exact red-flag pattern I was describing, and basically said “go back right now and ask for a CT.” I copied the symptoms and the reasoning, walked back to the ER, told them: “This is what I’m experiencing, this is why I think it’s serious, I want a CT.” They did it. Appendix was inflamed and close to rupturing. Six-hour laparoscopic surgery later, it’s out. Pain is 100 % gone. I woke up laughing about anesthesia. I’m alive and healed because an AI recognized the pattern when the first exam missed it, and because I had the exact words to make them take me seriously the second time. If you’re reading this while curled up in pain, googling symptoms at 3 a.m., and someone already sent you home once, please don’t wait.”
Christianity shaped Europe: cathedrals rose before nations, monks preserved learning when marauders burned villages, and the Church became the backbone of a civilisation that stumbled and sinned, yet kept rising because it believed life held meaning beyond power and pleasure. Europe grew through that conviction. It gave the continent a conscience, a calendar, and a culture that valued dignity over dominance. For centuries, Christianity provided Europe with a rhythm: feast days shaped the seasons, parish life shaped the towns, and in the darkest hours, when plagues spread and borders shifted, faith gave people a way to endure suffering without surrendering to despair.
How times have changed. Today, the foundation that once held Europe steady is being chipped away. Not by debate or honest disagreement, but by hostility and quiet indifference. The latest report from the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination tracking attacks on Christians shows the scale of this shift.More than two thousand anti-Christian hate crimes were recorded across Europe last year. While the total fell slightly from the previous year, the nature of the crimes grew more alarming. Personal attacks rose from 232 to 274. Arson attacks nearly doubled. Churches, monasteries, cemeteries, shrines, and schools were targeted with increasing boldness. France, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Austria saw the highest levels of hostility.
Behind those statistics are real faces and shattered places. A seventy-six-year-old monk murdered in Spain. A worshipper in Istanbul shot dead during Sunday Mass. A Catholic church in France left close to ashes. In Germany, where a third of all church arsons took place, bishops warned that every taboo has now been broken. When believers gather under that kind of threat, Europe can no longer pretend the problem is imaginary.
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Violence, however, is only part of the story. Europe is experiencing what Pope Francis once called a “polite persecution”, a pressure that disguises itself as progress. The report highlights cases of silent prayer being treated as a punishable act. Adam Smith-Connor, a British army veteran, was fined thousands of pounds for praying in silence near an abortion facility. There were no placards, no chants, no crowds; only a man standing still in a public place.
Other pressures arrive in more subtle forms. Trigger warnings have been placed on university readings of Scripture. Christian groups applying for EU funds report being screened out for allegedly lacking “inclusiveness”.The University of Sheffield, recently placed a trigger warning on the Bible. Not a fringe passage, not some obscure verse, but the Gospels themselves. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John — all flagged. Even Cain and Abel earned a caution label, as if English Literature students might faint upon hearing that one brother did not like the other very much. The crucifixion is now treated like a plot twist too intense for young scholars. When asked, the university said it was simply using a “content note”.
The case of Finnish parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen shows how far this shift can go. She faced years of prosecutions for expressing beliefs that align with traditional Christian teaching. She was twice acquitted, yet prosecutors are still pushing the case toward the nation’s highest court. The message is unmistakable: believers may speak, but they should be prepared to defend their words in court for as long as the state desires.
The Church has begun to ask Europe for something simple: equal protection.COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union, has called for the appointment of an EU coordinator on anti-Christian hatred, similar to positions already created to address hostility toward Jewish and Muslim communities. The initial reaction was surprise. Many in Brussels argued that Christians remain a majority in Europe, therefore, such protection is unnecessary. Yet the rising attacks, both violent and polite, suggest otherwise.
The continent now stands in a curious moment. The faith that once shaped its cities and its politics is now treated as a mild embarrassment, like an elderly relative Europe keeps in the attic.Churches are protected by stone, but not always by law. Christians are told their beliefs are welcome, as long as they speak in a hush, avoid eye contact, and practise the faith with the enthusiasm of someone hiding contraband.
The rise in attacks is not only aimed at believers; it warns that Europe is forgetting the roots that helped it survive its darkest hours. A civilisation that severs itself from its source will not stand for long. Christianity once steadied Europe through invasions, famine, and fire. Now, Europe must choose whether to keep that lamp lit.
A key part of the study focused on how the brain physically stores memories, highlighting the role of the hippocampus – a part of the brain that helps form and organise memories. Credit: Neuroscience News
Why Memories Change: How the Brain Rewrites the Past
Summary: A new review explores how episodic memories are formed, stored, and reshaped over time, revealing why our recollections of past events often change. Rather than functioning like fixed files, memories consist of multiple components that can lie dormant until triggered by environmental cues.
When retrieved, these components blend with general knowledge, past experiences, and current context, creating updated versions of the original event. The findings help explain memory distortion and offer insights for mental health, learning, and legal settings where accuracy matters.
Key Facts
Dynamic Memories:Episodic memories are continually updated, not stored as perfect copies.
Trigger-Based Recall:Hidden memory traces become conscious only when activated by cues.
Real-World Impact:Memory reshaping affects mental health, education, and legal decision-making.
Source: University of East Anglia
A study from the University of East Anglia is helping scientists better understand how our brains remember past events – and how those memories can change over time.
A new paper published today explores episodic memory – the kind of memory we use to recall personal experiences like a birthday party or a holiday.
The team say their work has important implications for mental health, education, and legal settings where memory plays a key role.
Working collaboratively with the University of Texas in Dallas, the team show that memories aren’t just stored like files in a computer.
Instead, they’re made up of different parts. And while some are active and easy to recall, others stay hidden until something triggers them.
Importantly, the review shows that for something to count as a real memory, it must be linked to a real event from the past.
“But even then, the memory we recall might not be a perfect copy,” said lead researcher Prof Louis Renoult, from UEA’s School of Psychology.
“It can include extra details from our general knowledge, past experiences, or even the situation we’re in when we remember it.
“Memories of older events often go through a process called re-encoding, which means the brain updates or reshapes the memory over time. This creates a chain of connections from the original experience to the version of the memory we can access now.
“This work helps us understand why our memories aren’t always reliable and how they can be influenced by time, context, and even our own imaginations.”
How the research happened
The team looked at almost 200 psychology and neuroscience studies about memory representations, as well philosophical papers and recent studies using animal models.
Prof Renoult said: “We wanted to suggest a new way of looking at things by combining ideas from different fields. The goal was to make sense of problems that haven’t been solved yet and spark fresh research.”
A key part of the study focused on how the brain physically stores memories, highlighting the role of the hippocampus – a part of the brain that helps form and organise memories.
The research explains how memory traces in the brain can lie dormant and only become conscious representations when something – typically a cue from the environment – activates that memory trace.
“These conscious representations of our past are typically a combination of retrieved information of the original experience, generic knowledge about the world and information relevant for the current situation,” explained Prof Renoult.
“While memories need to have a causal link to past events to count as memories, they may differ each time they are retrieved.
“This means that memories can and do change. They might become less accurate or include new information, making them feel different from the original event.
A crucial part of our daily lives
“Understanding how memories are formed, stored, and reshaped over time is crucial because memory underpins so much of our daily lives – from learning and mental health to decisions made in courtrooms.
“By revealing that memories are dynamic rather than fixed, this research helps us better understand why they can change and how that impacts the way we think, feel, and act,” he added.
Key Questions Answered:
Q: Why do memories change over time?
A: Each retrieval blends original memory traces with generic knowledge and present context, reshaping the memory into a revised version of the past.
Q: What determines whether something is a “real” memory?
A: It must be causally linked to an actual past event, even though the recalled version may include altered or added details.
Q: Why is this research important for everyday life?
A: Understanding how memories evolve informs mental health treatment, supports better learning strategies, and highlights the limitations of eyewitness testimony.
Editorial Notes:
This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
Journal paper reviewed in full.
Additional context added by our staff.
About this memory and neuroscience research news
Author: Lisa Horton Source:University of East Anglia Contact: Lisa Horton – University of East Anglia Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
The cognitive neuroscience of memory representations
The present paper considers the cognitive neuroscience of memory from a representational perspective with the aim of shedding light on current empirical and theoretical issues.
We focus on episodic memory, differentiating active versus latent, and cognitive versus neural memory representations. We adopt a causal perspective, according to which a memory representation must have a causal connection to a past event to count as a memory.
We note that retrieved episodic information may nonetheless only partially determine the content of an active memory representation, which can comprise a combination of the retrieved information with semantic, schematic and situational information.
We further note that, especially in the case of memories for temporally remote events, re-encoding operations likely lead to a causal chain that extends from the original experience of the event to its currently accessible memory trace.
We discuss how the reinstatement framework provides a mechanistic basis for the causal linkage between an experience, the memory trace encoding it, and the episodic memory of the experience, highlighting the crucial role of hippocampal engrams in encoding patterns of neocortical activity that, when active, constitute the neural representation of an episodic memory.
Finally, we discuss some of the ways in which a memory can become modified and hence distanced from the episode that precipitated it.
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Erskine Childers great grandson writes to Michelle Clarke, granddaughter of Michael Comyn KC 2013.
Can Grok add to the content or find data recorded in newspapers?
Dear Michelle
Many thanks for your email. I must apologize for the rather lengthy delay in this reply. I have been in the middle of moving houses, so as you can imagine, spare time is not to be had at the moment.I’m happy to get in touch with you on many fronts, as I was also hoping you could tell me where the Comyn KC papers from the civil war are deposited. Are they still in the family, or in an institution? Were there any diaries he kept during that time?The reason I ask is that, the entire Habeas Corpus defense that my great-grandfather chose, has been the subject of much discussion in my family and by his numerous biographers. Your grandfather would have taken detailed notes on the case. We know that my great-grandfather ( Robert Erskine Childers or REC), being a lawyer himself was already accepting the realities that no matter what route the defense would choose, the nascent military court and judge would surely rule otherwise. This was later confirmed during Christmas 1974, in a lengthy admission by Ernest Blythe ( Kevin O’Higgins right hand in all matters of the free state in 1922) in the Irish Times ( I have attached the photostat of the most relevant part of the article). Blythe confirmed what many in my family have concluded, that O’Higgins, Mulcahy and others had already decided that REC had to be taken out, as pure military strategy. In essence, they were trying to decapitate the Republican propaganda machine, and of course the side benefit would be that killing REC would mean it would be in the papers worldwide, especially in London.
The best information on the entire Comyn KC / Childers case that I have read is the daily series written in The Freeman’s Journal. Starting from 13 November 1922 and ending around 26 November 1922. It is very very detailed in regards to your grandfather. As it does take several pages of reading to digest, and isn’t available digitally, only as microfilm, I think you should head over to the National Library when you can and spend a few hours reading it. Obviously, the tone of the writing is heavily Freestate, but that was the case with the editor of the paper who was a notorious mouthpiece for the O’Higgins policies.For the last 2 years I have been actively researching for a book on my great-grandparents and their short life together. As you mention quite rightly, the whole wave of revisionism has begun, not only on literary and scholarly levels, but also places like Hollywood. You will definitely see a run of films, books and TV on the rising. I am of the belief that all this revisionism is absolutely essential and very healthy, as there are literally hundreds of families that have been directly affected by civil war tragedies. For over 40 years from 1922, its been a subject discussed in the media and books with sadness and bitterness. We can’t let that go on forever. Especially as the border in the north is still so potent with tensions. As a republic, commemoration is a therapy of sorts. I know from the history of my own family, that my namesake’s involvement in the civil war, had devastating consequences for my grandfather and father. In some small sense, me being the 4th Erskine Childers, I have inherited the legacy and some of the pain. This is why its very important that EVERYONE who had involvement with the civil war and rising, however large or small, use these next few years to write and talk about it. Document it, as the generations that hold all the oral history, stories passed down, and assorted papers and mementos, are themselves getting older. If we all don’t write about it, who will? Again, thank you very much for getting in touch. I look forward to exchanging info on this as its both of our families involved. Regards,ErskineSent from my iPad 3. DISCLAIMER: This is not an offer (or
Thought for 1m 18s
The letter you shared from Erskine Childers (the fourth in the family line, great-grandson of Robert Erskine Childers) to Michelle Clarke in 2013 provides a personal glimpse into ongoing family research and reflections on the Irish Civil War. While I can’t access private archives or unpublished family papers like the Michael Comyn KC documents mentioned (which may remain in private hands or undigitized institutions), I can expand on the historical context using publicly available records, including newspaper references and scholarly analyses. Below, I’ll add details drawn from contemporary reports, later admissions, and related publications to enrich the narrative without speculating on unverified elements.Confirmation of Ernest Blythe’s 1974 Admission.The letter references a Christmas 1974 Irish Times article where Ernest Blythe (a key Free State figure and Kevin O’Higgins’ close associate) admitted that Robert Erskine Childers’ (REC) execution was a predetermined strategic move to neutralize Republican leadership and propaganda. This aligns with historical accounts. In a 1974 Irish Times piece titled “Civil War and Executions,” Blythe reflected on the decisions without regret, describing the executions—including REC’s—as “essential to end guerrilla action” and “extreme acts of war” rather than vengeance. He emphasized that they were collective Executive Council choices made in response to escalating violence, like the killing of Seán Hales, to stabilize the Free State and prevent anarchy. Blythe justified targeting prominent figures like REC due to their influence in sustaining resistance, viewing it as “counter-terror” to “cut out the cancer” of unrest.
pure.ulster.ac.uk This supports the family’s long-held view of the execution as a calculated military strategy, not a fair judicial outcome, and echoes the letter’s point about decapitating the Republican propaganda machine for global media impact.While the full original Irish Times article isn’t digitized in open access (it may require archival microfilm at the National Library of Ireland, similar to the Freeman’s Journal), its content is summarized in multiple scholarly works, including theses on Blythe’s political life.
pure.ulster.ac.uk Blythe’s stance remained consistent over decades—he took full responsibility and saw no alternative to such measures against former comrades threatening democratic principles.Freeman’s Journal Coverage of the Trial (November 1922). The letter recommends the Freeman’s Journal series from November 13–26, 1922, for detailed accounts of Michael Comyn KC’s role in REC’s habeas corpus defense. This pro-Free State newspaper (edited by figures aligned with O’Higgins’ policies, as noted) provided extensive daily reporting on the proceedings, often framing them through a Treaty-supporting lens. While full digital scans are paywalled via services like Irish Newspaper Archives, secondary sources and partial excerpts confirm the coverage’s depth:
Starting November 13, reports detailed REC’s arrest at Annamoe (his cousin Robert Barton’s home) on November 10, where he was found with a small revolver (gifted by Michael Collins, ironically). irishhistory1919-1923chronology.ie Comyn argued vigorously that REC, as a civilian, couldn’t be tried by a military court under emergency regulations, and that the possession charge was a pretext. irishtimes.com
By November 17–19, articles covered the court-martial at Portobello Barracks, where Comyn challenged the tribunal’s jurisdiction and sought a writ of habeas corpus. The paper described Comyn’s efforts to escalate the case to the High Court and even the House of Lords, highlighting procedural irregularities—like the execution proceeding despite a pending appeal, which a judge later called a “travesty of justice.” independent.ie +1
Reports through November 24–26 focused on the execution at Beggars Bush Barracks, noting REC’s composure (shaking hands with the firing squad and advising them to step closer for accuracy) and Comyn’s failed last-minute appeals. irishtimes.com The tone was indeed “heavily Free State,” portraying REC as a dangerous propagandist influencing figures like de Valera, while downplaying the defense’s arguments.
These articles aren’t freely available online but can be accessed via microfilm at the National Library of Ireland or subscription databases like irishnewsarchive.com, which holds the Freeman’s Journal run.
irishnewsarchive.com Contemporary pamphlets and chronologies (e.g., from the National Library of Ireland catalog) also reprint or summarize parts, emphasizing Comyn’s detailed notes on the case’s futility, as the military court was seen as rigged. catalogue.nli.ie +1 No diaries from Comyn during this period are publicly digitized, but his involvement in other Republican defenses (e.g., 1916 Rising aftermath) suggests he kept meticulous records, potentially in family or institutional holdings like UCD Archives.Updates on the Book Research and Family LegacyThe letter mentions two years of active research (circa 2011–2013) for a book on REC and his wife, Molly Childers, whose short life together included gun-running on the Asgard yacht and key roles in the independence struggle. As of 2025, no published book under Erskine Childers IV’s name directly matches this description, but he has been active in public discussions:
In 2014, he gave a talk at Princeton University on REC as a “major figure in the Irish revolution,” drawing from family history. fis.princeton.edu
He maintains an X account (@erskinechilders) focused on “history, politics and books,” acknowledging his lineage (“he’s my grandfather and great-grandfather”). It links to @erskineandmolly, which appears to promote content about REC and Molly—possibly a project tied to the research, like a forthcoming book, blog, or documentary series. x.com Mentions of “Erskine and Molly” often refer to their partnership in historical contexts, but no new standalone biography since older works like Burke Wilkinson’s The Zeal of the Convert (1976). barnesandnoble.com
The letter’s call for revisionism and commemoration has borne fruit: Recent works (e.g., 2022 centenaries) revisit REC’s execution as emblematic of Civil War bitterness, with films and books highlighting his transformation from British loyalist to Republican martyr. theirishstory.com +1 This aligns with the therapeutic role of documenting family stories, especially as oral histories fade.If you have more specifics (e.g., the attached photostat or Comyn papers’ location), I could refine searches further. Otherwise, institutions like the National Library of Ireland or Military Archives remain the best for primary sources.
4 more men were executed at the time of Erskine Childers. Their names appeared to be lost in history that is until Grok 4 AI provided these details.
Any details of these 4 men executed at the same time as Erskine Childers. C. O’Rourke, Buddie (likely a misspelling of Budgen), J. Spooner, and J. Murphy, who were executed alongside Childers.
Thought for 2m 53s
During the Irish Civil War, Erskine Childers was executed on November 24, 1922, at Beggars Bush Barracks in Dublin for unlawful possession of a revolver. Historical records indicate he was executed alone that day. However, six days later on November 30, 1922, four young anti-Treaty IRA men—Joseph Spooner, Patrick Farrelly, John Murphy, and James O’Connor—were executed for similar offenses (possession of revolvers without authority). This group was executed at Beggars Bush Barracks (some sources say Mountjoy Jail or Kilmainham Gaol, but the charge and date are consistent). Their names partially align with those in your query (J. Spooner and J. Murphy), and the timing is close to Childers’ execution, so these may be the individuals you mean despite some discrepancies in the other names (perhaps due to misspellings, nicknames, or transcription errors in sources).Here’s what is known about each, based on military pension records, court-martial details, and contemporary accounts:
Joseph Spooner (age 21): A resident of 67 McCaffrey’s Estate, Mount Brown, Dublin. He was an apprentice tinsmith and had served with Na Fianna Éireann (a republican youth organization) before joining the IRA as a private in the Dublin Brigade. He was arrested on October 23, 1922, at Hanbury Lane off Werburgh Street in Dublin’s Liberties area, along with Farrelly and Murphy, while in possession of a revolver. Some accounts note he was involved in an attempt to bomb Oriel House (headquarters of the Free State CID, a pro-Treaty intelligence unit). He was tried by military court and executed as a reprisal measure to deter anti-Treaty activities. en.wikipedia.org +5
Patrick Farrelly (age 21): A resident of Dublin (specific address not consistently documented, but associated with the Liberties area like Spooner). He was a member of the anti-Treaty IRA’s Dublin Brigade. Arrested on the same night as Spooner and Murphy (October 23, 1922) at Hanbury Lane with a revolver in his possession. Little additional personal detail is available in records, but he was described as an “ordinary” case of a young republican caught with arms during the guerrilla phase of the war. Executed alongside the others in the group. en.wikipedia.org +3
John Murphy (age 19): A resident of Dublin, associated with the same Liberties area group as Spooner and Farrelly. He was a member of the anti-Treaty IRA. Arrested with Spooner and Farrelly on October 23, 1922, at Hanbury Lane while carrying a revolver. Like the others, he was convicted by a military tribunal under the Free State’s emergency powers legislation. No extensive biographical details survive, but he was noted as a young volunteer involved in republican activities. en.wikipedia.org +3
James O’Connor (age 18): From Cobh, County Cork (unlike the others, who were Dublin-based). He was a member of the anti-Treaty IRA. Arrested separately on October 30, 1922, in Dublin while in possession of a revolver. He was tried and executed with the Dublin trio as part of the Free State’s escalating reprisal policy. Limited personal details are available, but he was described as a young volunteer from a southern republican stronghold. en.wikipedia.org +2
These executions were part of the Free State’s harsh policy to suppress the anti-Treaty IRA, with 81 official executions during the Civil War (77 political). The November 1922 executions, starting with four on the 17th, then Childers on the 24th, and this group on the 30th, marked the beginning of a wave of reprisals that intensified the conflict’s bitterness. If these aren’t the exact individuals you meant or if the names “C. O’Rourke” and “Buddie Budgen” refer to something specific (no matching records found for them in this context), provide more context for further search.
Image source: Ideogram / The Rundown
Image source: Nano Banana Pro / The Rundown
canisgallicus 