The occurrence appears to have originated in the gathering of a crowd antagonistic to the Sinn Feiners in the street opposite rooms occupied by the Irish Volunteers, in William street, Tullamore. A scuffle followed, but not much damage was done, and the police had not much difficulty in separating the parties. The crowd, however, remained in the vicinity of the Sinn Fein meeting place, and when some of the volunteers appeared they were protected by the police. What exactly followed is not known yet, but reports state that stones were then thrown at the windows, and those inside replied to the fusillade by revolver shots. Eventually County Inspector Crane and District Inspector Fitzgerald arrived on the scene, and, aided by some police, began clearing the crowd away.

Afterwards the two inspectors, accompanied by Head Constable Stuart and Sgt. Ahern, entered the rooms with the intention of searching the occupants for arms. The Sinn Feiners refused to allow themselves to be searched, and shots were fired. Sgt. Ahern was shot in the arm and side, and now lies in a precarious condition at the hospital. Inspector Crane was hit in the cheek. Four arrests were made, the prisoners being all Tullamore Volunteers. Three revolvers were seized by the police, one of which was an automatic pistol. A number of extra police are being drafted into the town, and many more arrests are expected. Those under arrest will probably be handed over to the military authorities and dealt with under the Defence of the Realm Act.