Was De Velera a British spy?

[Sanity Claws]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/de-valera-was-a-british-spy-1924389.html

The book, provocatively titled 'England's Greatest Spy: Eamon de Valera', suggests that Dev was terrified of being executed after the Rising and was "turned" in exchange for his life. For some years afterwards, the book claims, Dev was under British control.

Interesting and scary at the same time.

[dflprincess]

1. Very interesting

I just watched "Michael Collins" today.

I know when the movie came out Liam Neesson said he did the film because it gave a somewhat different view of DeValera and Collins that how the public usually thinks of them. If the film is at all accurate, DeValera set Collins up to take the fall for partition and creation of the Free State, not a Republic in the Anglo-Irish treaty and eventually to be killed. Largely because he felt that Collins had begun to overshadow him - but also to keep the Irish people with him.

The picture of Dev in the film would be in keeping with what this book is talking about.

[DaveinMD]

2. many scholars

do believe that Dev sent Collins, because he knew the British wouldn't give in to what Dev wanted. I doubt it was to have Collins killed. Blame Dev for being a weak leader, not for treason. That's my take.

[whathehell]

3. I've read that de Valera was not killed because he was an American citizen

so he didn't need to "do" anything to keep from being executed.

He was, in fact, born in the United States to an Irish mother and Spanish father..He was raised in Irleand, of course, but his citizenship stood -- at least long enough to keep him from the firing squad.

I saw Michael Collins as well, and I agree that the portrait was unflattering.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. I'm not sure about the spy theory

but de Valera and the Irish state were clandestinely very pro-Allies during the Emergency despite the official neutral postering.