Damien "I hope this Ireland is worth it"

Perhaps the most moving scene in the entire film is when Damien executes the Englishmen, then the ginger haired friend. The whole exchange and hesitation "Have you written your letters" to which the friend nervously mutters "I didn't know what to write". This boy was helpless, trapped and shown literally no mercy even though Damien allowed glimpses of it when he asked "have you said your prayers". That was about the extent of Damien's mercy, although the whole film he looked terribly conflicted (Cillian Murphy is a brilliant actor).

He shoots his friend nevertheless, and for me, the scene sets up the entire film. From that scene on, I knew Damien would die (those who live by the sword, will die by the sword). But putting cinematic expression aside, did situations like the above really happen?

Were the Irish republicans more set on executing presumed weakness and dissent than showing mercy and love? If so, the Ireland Damien was fighting for would be exactly like the England that was worth fighting against.

To me it is not fully depicted in this film that Irish compassion was apart of the revolution. But I cannot help think in actual conflict there would have been a amount tremendous of Irish compassion shown.

No doubt today the ongoing battles between the Irish is down to a minority of mob mongrels. I do believe in this present day most Irish want only peace, though some continue to live by the sword.

The Republic of Ireland today is a place of compassion, I cannot believe it was built by acts like the ones Damien committed. But I am willing to be proven wrong. Perhaps Damien is better described as an extremist in todays terms.

Thoughts?