After it broke out on 24 April 1916, Martial law was declared for the city and county of Dublin by the Lord Lieutenant Lord Wimborne, but the British government at the same time took measures to allow for the court martial of persons breaching the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA), passed 8 August 1914.
Efter at den var brudt ud den 24. april 1916 blev der erklæret krigsretstilstand i byen og grevskabet Dublin af Lord Lieutenant Lord Wimborne, men den britiske regering tog samtidig skridt til at gøre det muligt at stille folk som brød Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) for en militærdomstol.