1921, Neligan became Collins' most important mole inside Dublin Castle. Irish Civil War On the outbreak of the Civil War in June 1922, Neligan joined the Irish Army in Islandbridge Barracks with the rank of Commandant, and was attached to the Dublin Guard. He was involved in the seaborne assault on Fenit and spent the remainder of the war serving as a military intelligence officer operating between Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee & Killarney. He has been accused of involvement in several atrocities including the Ballyseedy massacre and has been referred to as the "Butcher of Kerry". However, Ernie O'Malley expressed doubts as to the evidence of this. In 1923 Neligan was posted to Dublin, where he was promoted to Colonel and succeeded Diarmuid O'Hegarty as the Irish Army's Director of Intelligence. Later life In 1924 Neligan handed over his post to the youthful Colonel Michael Joe Costello and took command of the DMP (which still continued as a force separate from the newly established Garda Síochána) with the rank of Chief Superintendent. The next year he transferred to the Garda when the two police forces were amalgamated, and was instrumental in the foundation of Garda Special Branch. When Éamon de Valera became head of government in 1932, his Republican followers demanded Neligan's dismissal. Instead, Neligan was transferred to an equivalent post in the Irish Civil Service. In June 1935 Neligan was married to fellow civil servant Sheila Maeve Rogan. Neligan drew pensions from the DMP, the British MI5, the Garda Síochána and the Irish Civil Service. He also received an 'Old IRA' pension through the Department of Defence. References Sources The Spy in the Castle by David Neligan. Who's Who in the Irish War of Independence 1916–1921. Padraic O'Farrell, Mercier Press 1980. Double agents People of the Irish Civil War (Pro-Treaty side) Garda Síochána officers Irish Directorate of Intelligence personnel Military personnel from County Limerick Spies during the Irish War of Independence 1899 births 1983 deaths National Army (Ireland) officers Dublin Metropolitan Police officers Irish spies