Anatomy of a national tragedy waiting to happen

For Irish conspiracy theorists, few subjects have provided more fertile ground than the killing of Michael Collins at Béal na Bláth on August 22, 1922

Michael Collins pictured in 1922, the year of his death, which is the subject of Gerard Murphy’s exhaustive new book Pic: Getty

History: The Great Cover-Up: The Truth About the Death of Michael Collins, By Gerard Murphy, Collins Press, €19.95

There is an old joke about two conspiracy theorists who go to heaven and ask God: “So who really shot John F. Kennedy?” The reply comes: “Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone.” One of them turns to the other and says: “Wow – this cover-up goes even higher than we thought!”

For Irish conspiracy theorists, few ...