Described by Madden as "a great man of muscular strength and activity, of a short stature and dark complexion and somewhat celebrated in the country for his horsemanship.
"[1] At some point before 1798 Reynolds joined the United Irishmen, a secret society whose aim was to overthrow British rule and establish an independent, democratic republic in Ireland.
Much of the suspicion fell on Thomas Reynolds (a distant relative to Michael) who was at Bond's during the raid, yet had not been arrested.
On 22 May, an arrest warrant was issued with rewards offered for some remaining United Irish leaders in Leinster.
The onslaught drove Naas' garrison to a barricade outside the gaol which was located on a slight hill at the centre of the town's main street.
Rebel assaults on the barricade were eventually beaten back as the military brought two artillery pieces to bear.
In response, Anthony Perry mobilised a considerably sized force of rebels, gaining the opposite side with minimal loss.
Reynolds again led a troop of Kildare men, this time in an attempt to scale the barrack walls with ladders.