The Sniper
The Sniper, whose name is never mentioned, is a fanatic republican. He is the crux of the story, and the plot revolves around him. Not having eaten all day, he eats his sandwich sitting on a rooftop, and takes a drought of whiskey, after which he smokes, in spite of realizing that it might bring enemy attention as to his position. This is what starts off the shootings and firings on that night.
The Enemy
'The enemy' in the short story is said in reference to the solider of the Irish Free Staters who lay on the roof opposite to the one the Sniper lay on. He too is not given any particular name. He notices the spark of light caused when the Sniper lit his cigarette and fires immediately. He is later shot dead by the Sniper. The Sniper thinks of this man as a 'good shot' since he manages to shoot him in spite of the darkness. The Sniper gets curious about this enemy after he has killed him, and goes to see who it was, considering within himself that it might be someone who had been acquaintance before the war split the country. In the end, it turns out that the 'enemy' had been the Sniper's own brother.
Old woman
The old woman, who comes around around the corner of a side street of the street where the Sniper lay, turns out to be an informer. When an armored car of the Irish Free Staters comes to the place on hearing the enemy soldier's shot, the old woman in her tattered shawl informs the man in the turret of the car about the Sniper's hideout. She is killed mercilessly by the Sniper and drops dead into the gutter.
The Man in the turret
An Irish Free Stater, this man was the one who brought the armored car on hearing enemy soldier's shot. He opens the turret of the car on being informed by the old woman about the Sniper's position, and is immediately shot dead by the Sniper without a moment's hesitation.
