On one occasion he was seized upon in the night at his home by crown forces who beat him and threw him into a lorry bound for Ballina.

I can go down to those who are responsible for my election and say to them that I have kept the pledges I made to them and, if they so desire it, they have back the trust placed in me, and I will give it to them without blemish".

[5]He was re-elected unopposed for the same constituency at the 1922 general election, this time as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin TD, and he did not take his seat in the Dáil.

Crowley joined fellow anti-Treaty volunteers in opposing the Free State Government and was held for a time in Ballina Workhouse – to be released with other IRA prisoners when the anti-Treaty IRA briefly seized the town on 12 September 1922.

In attendance at his funeral were P. J. Ruttledge, the Minister for Justice, then President of Sinn Féin Father Michael O'Flanagan, John J. O'Kelly, and many other politicians in addition to over 1,000 IRA members.