Many Convictions at Ennis, 9 June, 1831

[murf]

Following my query re violence at Ballycorick in 1831, Peter Bierne of County Clare Library has kindly provided this excerpt from the Clare Journal, 9 June 1831 which summarises the final day's proceedings of the Special Commission. Because it contains many names I felt it worthy of a separate posting.

"SPECIAL COMMISSION - This Day
At the sitting of the court this morning, the following persons were sentenced:-
The 21 men for digging up Mr. Whigmore's land, at Ross - Wm. Shaughnessy to one day's imprisonment, the others to 12 months' imprisonment, and hard labour.
John, Thomas and James McInerheny, John Collins James Haugh, Pat. Leary, and Jas. O'Brien, for assaulting the house of James McMahon, sentence of death recorded.
James Welsh, for assaulting Thos. Coppner, with intent to rob him of his arms, having a good character, was sentenced to one week's imprisonment.
John Keaty, for appearing in arms, twelve month's imprisonment and hard labour.
John Fitzgerald, for serving a notice upon Francis Macnamara, at Ennistimon, to be transported for seven years.
John Keogh, for attacking the house of Frs. Brew, to be transported for life.
Patrick Flynn, for attacking the house of Mr. Stacpoole, with intent to take arms, to be transported for life.
Austin McInerheny, and John Lysaght, for attacking the house of John Robinson, sentence of death recorded.
Keadagh Callaghan, for assaulting the habitation of Timothy Morony, sentence of death recorded.
John Meskill, Mat. Hehir, Martin Phillips, Pat. Rowan, James Hehir, and Denis Grady, who were indicted for assaulting Francis Kennedy, and taking firearms from him, and also for taking a pistol from Rickard Kennedy and another from George Woods, on the 8th of May, pleaded Guilty.
The Attorney-General applied for the instant judgement of the Court, when they were sentenced to be transported for life....."

After then describing a speech by the Attorney-General, the report concludes:-

".... He [the A-G] stated the result of the Commission, to be as follows:- Two to be hanged; sentence of Death recorded against fourteen; transported for different periods, fifty; twenty-two for misdemeanours to be imprisoned - Total, 88."

It should be noted that all of those prisoners named in the above report as having received the death sentence were in actual fact transported to Australia aboard the Asia V. (Refer to Peter Mayberry's site at http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-b ... /irish.cgi)

Kevin Murphy
Qld, Aus