 While the Northern units took part, the Divisions based in southern territory and under Collins' authority, the 1st, 4th and 5th Northern Divisions did not, leading to the suppression of the offensive with relative ease by the Northern authorities.Collins chided pro-Treaty IRA units who became embroiled in heavy fighting with British troops at Pettigo in June 1922 and the Provisional Government subsequently issued an order that their policy was “peaceful obstruction… and no troops from the twenty- six counties either official or attached to the executive [anti-Treaty] should be permitted to invade the six county area”.At the time of his death in August 1922, it was still unclear what Collins' true intentions towards Northern Ireland were.