The members of the Irish independence movement convened in 1919 in Dublin to compose and declare different documents relating to the movement, such as the Irish Declaration of Independence and the Dáil Constitution. This meeting became known as the First Dáil, and laid the framework for an independent Ireland.
WI there had been a spy, for example, that was aware of the meeting and notified the British? In OTL the Dáil was not proclaimed illegal until later in 1919, but WI if the British had acted preemptively and moved to arrest the members of the First Dáil at their meeting? Perhaps not all of the Irish representatives were captured, but what would be the affect if many of the most prominent members had been, including Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera?
What would the British do with their prisoners? How would the Irish independence movement proceed? Would there be any international outcry, especially since many of the members of the Dáil were Irish MPs at Westminister?
WI there had been a spy, for example, that was aware of the meeting and notified the British? In OTL the Dáil was not proclaimed illegal until later in 1919, but WI if the British had acted preemptively and moved to arrest the members of the First Dáil at their meeting? Perhaps not all of the Irish representatives were captured, but what would be the affect if many of the most prominent members had been, including Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera?
What would the British do with their prisoners? How would the Irish independence movement proceed? Would there be any international outcry, especially since many of the members of the Dáil were Irish MPs at Westminister?