Kevin O'Higgins with his wife at the races c. 1926.
The assassination of Kevin O'Higgins by Republicans shortly after the election in June 1927 came as a bitter blow to the Cumann na nGaedhael party. In response to this act of violence, the Government of W.T Cosgrave introduced a second Public Safety Act, which provided for the death penalty, and an Electoral Amendment Act which forced elected TDs to either take their Dail seats or abdicate their seat to the runner up. Thus the murder indirectly led to Fianna Fáil's forced entry to the Dáil and in August 1927.