Following the ambush, British forces burned a number of houses and farms in the area, and shot dead an elderly farmer.

The IRA's North Longford Flying Column, 21 strong and led by Seán Mac Eoin, had been formed in late 1920.

In November, a company of the Auxiliary Division—a paramilitary police force made up of ex-military officers—had been stationed in the county to put down the local IRA, and were reinforced in January 1921.

Mac Eoin selected a position where the ambushers had excellent cover and were barely visible to the British.

[1] Mac Eoin's humane treatment reportedly delayed the IRA's getaway and they were almost caught by 14 lorries of British reinforcements as they escaped across Clonfin Wood.

[1] In the aftermath of the ambush, British forces raided the nearby towns of Killoe, Ballinamuck, Drumlish, Ballinalee, Edgeworthstown, Granard and Ardagh.

MacEoin was captured at Mullingar railway station in early March and charged with the murder of RIC DI MGrath.