Born on 01/08/1887 and from Upper Loughnane in Templederry, Denis Carey worked as a Hardware assistant later Foreman, at W.F. McCurtains Hardware in Nenagh (it would later  become Sheehans Hardware). McCurtains had two sons, Austin and Jack who were otherwise occupied as full-time IRA men. Dinny himself was a Lieutenant in 'C' Coy of the 1st Battalion of Tipperary No 1 Brigade from 1917 until his death. From reports by Sean Gaynor and Frank McGrath, Denis was an effective and popular volunteer. He was deeply involved in the Republican Court system.

On the fateful night of 26/11/1920 Denis's lodgings in Queen St was raided by four masked men who singled out Denis and another worker, Jim Moore, who were dragged from their room which they shared. Moore managed to escape by slamming a door as they were being marched out. Margaret McCurtain when called as a witness, made reference to the fact that one of the interlopers, slurred his words and referred to Carey as Cleary. 

The interlopers secured Denis and marched him from his lodgings. Later shots were heard at Wolf Tone Terrace and Denis was found to be wounded having crawled to and knocked at the door of Michael Geaney who lived nearby at number 4.  He stood to knock on the door and asked Geaney to fetch a priest. He had been shot three times by revolver, once in the face under his right eye with an exit at his ear, a second in the abdomen with no exit and a third on his right hand. Prior to this he had been shot at 6 times with blank ammunition. This was referred to by Michael Geaney and Michael Seeney, Head Constable Nenagh R.I.C., during the subsequent Court of Enquiry.

Geaney made Denis comfortable and set out for the parochial House. Along the way he met up with a Military patrol and informed them of whhat was after occuring.  They had heard the shots and were coming to investigate. After giving them directions he continued on his errand. On his return with the priest, he had to guide the military to his house as they were lost. 

Dr A.D. (Louis) Courtenay was called for and was in attendance but Denis died later the same day at Nenagh Workhouse Infirmary. He refused to name his assailants despite pleas and cajolings from his family, a priest and other volunteers. It has been theorised that one of his attackers had been exiled in the IRA court and Denis was shot in revenge with the gunman removing his mask so Dinny would know who had shot him. Denis stated he told his assailant he didn't recognise him but if he was to see him again, he would. Denis also confirmed that although his assailants were masked and wearing Trenchcoats he thought they were Police.

Other versions would assert the assault was in retaliation for Dinny's knowledge of the shooting and wounding of local Constable McCarthy at Nenagh Post Office on 02/11/1920. Following that there was the assasination of Lieutenant Henry Hambleton (the local British Intelligence Officer) on the 04/11/1920 while returning on his motorbike from a briefing at Templemore. Hambleton who was thoroughly disliked had made threats to shoot the local curate Father O'Halloran. Further escalations led to the burning of the premises of John D Flannery's and Jim Nolan's in Castle St. 

The expected response of further arson by Crown forces never materialised although the local IRA had staked out the Creamery to prevent such an occurrence. However though, the military did escalate their raids on private houses looking for suspected I.R.A. personnel. Despite this increase of Crown activity according to a British Court of Enquiry all Military personnel and ammunition were accounted for on the fateful night.

Memorial Stone in Wolftone Terrace