Irish Free State to United Ireland in 10 years

It is April 1922, nascent Irish Free State is desperately trying to keep the coalition of Republican elements together. Michael Collins heads the Privisional Givernment but there are strong anti Treaty elements from the IRA and leftist groups who are preparing for a civil war which will be more divisive and bloody than the insurrection which brought notional independence from the British.

The Royal Irish Constabulary is disbanded as are the Dublin Metropolitan Police and the new state is desperately recruiting a new police force, the Civil Guards. By 22 April senior officers have been apppointed and 17 recruits are assembled at the site owned by the Royal Dublin Society. Training has started as more than 80% of the recruits have no police experience. However a considerable number are former IRA men. Around half of the officers appointed are firmer RIC officers

A small number of recruits protest an order and rumours start that some of their new colleagues were not RIC but actually Auxilliaries ( ie Black and Tans).

The anti Treaty forces take control of the Dublin Law Courts (the Four Courts) and resist attempts to evict them discharging firearms.
 
IFS to United Ireland 2.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of elements of the British Army which have not yet been withdrawn. No one will be more pleased to see the last soldier disappear than the last soldier/

Collins and his immediate circle actually welcome this as a surety against possible widespread disruption. DeValera has already effectively broken with the pro Treaty faction.

At the RDS, the delicate situation has worsened and a written statement demanding that all ex RIC officers be removed from the CG. Orders from ex RIC officers are being refused and the Commissioner of the new force is refused admission to the RDS site by sentries who claim he has no authority even though he is a former IRA commandant. Pressure is on the new force to vacate the RDS premises due to the upcoming Dublin Show and 1200 officers and men are transported to the former Royal Artillery base at Waterford. The CG's arrive as the last gunners leave.

The mutinous conduct spreads and some 1800 - 2000 recruits are refusing orders. Collins panics and dispatches a company of the new Irish Army (comprising mainly IRA men with a stiffening of former British army veterans) to Waterford with instructions to disarm the Guards who have 1100 rifles and 800 revolvers.
 
Pressure is on the new force to vacate the RDS premises due to the upcoming Dublin Show and 1200 officers and men are transported to the former Royal Artillery base at Waterford. The CG's arrive as the last gunners leave..
Sorry Pangur - as above. Note = we are still in OTL. No butterflies yet.
 
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