On the night of 18–19 March 1921, IRA volunteers of the West Waterford flying column ambushed a British military convoy at the Burgery, about a mile and a half northeast of Dungarvan.

The convoy included Black and Tans and a Royal Irish Constabulary Sergeant, named Michael Hickey.

Also present were West Waterford Brigade Commandant Pax Whelan, ASU leader George Lennon, and Mick Mansfield.

Hickey was later killed by an IRA firing squad[3] with a sign reading "police spy" affixed to his tunic.

[4] After the ambush, a group of volunteers under Plunkett returned to search for any armaments left behind by the British forces.