Sandy or Sardy Nagle was known to be friendly with Capt O'Sullivan, a British Intelligence officer in Killarney

Nagle was picked up by the Flying Column, on or about the day of the ambush. While the ambush was taking place they did not have the men to guard him, and he was left tied up in a cow shed with 2 British desrters who were also prisoners of the IRA,

After the ambush Nagle was courtmartialed by the IRA. One of the IRA men had been a prisoner in Killarney barracks, where he heard someone give information to Capt O'Sullivan. The witness did not see the man talking to the Intelligence Officer, but when he sung "Take me back to my old mother and let me live and die". This was known in the area as Sandy's song and the way in which it was sung gave away the identity of the singer. Sandy ws duely executed as a spy