[5] Foley along with colleagues from the Galtee Battalion of the East Limerick Brigade: Ned O'Brien, James Scanlon, John Joe O'Brien, and Sean Lynch, had taken part in the rescue of IRA member Seán Hogan from a train at Knocklong Railway Station on 13 May 1919, along with Hogan's comrades from the 3rd Tipperary Brigade: Sean Treacy, Séumas Robinson and Dan Breen.

[7] After going on the run for a number of months, Foley was arrested and charged with two counts of murder for the two men killed at Knocklong.

[8] Foley and another volunteer, Patrick Maher, were tried three times for these murders with juries failing to reach verdicts on two occasions.

Among the many who appealed for clemency was the father of one of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) men killed at Knocklong, Sergeant Peter Wallace.

[9] Foley and Maher made a joint, final statement just hours before their deaths: "Fight on, struggle on, for the honour, glory and freedom of dear old Ireland.