"Hurling match Incident!"
1785
By kind permission of Michael Purcell
From the Bunbury Papers, interesting case.
Other accounts tell us that Patrick McDarby was Blooded by
the neighbours many times during the night and Leeches were
also applied (he would have been cut to draw blood, it was
believed that if a person was unconscious they should cause
blood to spill and then apply leeches to stopped the
bleeding). Subsequently Michael Brennan was arrested and
charged with murder. I do not, as yet, know what happened
to him .
The Examination of Thomas
Deegan of Carlow.
Swears that on the evening of Saturday
26th November 1785. he went to see a Hurling match near
Graigue in Queen's County and there saw a number of men
Hurling and in a short time saw Patrick McDarby Stoop Down
and take up the Ball they were Hurling with as McDarby was
appointed Judge of the field before they began said Hurling
match he thereby had a right to do so.
Upon which
Michael Brennan
of Monure in
Queen's County, Farmer, without any Other Offence or
Provocation came upon said McDarby and with his hands turned
said McDarby about and then behind his back said
Michael
Brennan gave said McDarby a most Desperate stroak of the
Flat of a Hurl which said Brennan had in his hands Just over
the Right Temple upon which said McDarby fell upon his face
on the Ground Seeming Streched out for Death and remained
there about five Minutes Senseless and Speechless then he
was turned by Some persons upon his Back and Blooded and to
the appearance of every person present he was dead and Dying
from the violence of Said Stroke upon which Captain John
Waters of Carlow Seized said
Michael Brennan and Kept him in
Custody Sometime and told said Brennan he had Murdered the
said Michael McDarby by the Stroke of his Hurl upon which
said Waters then Commanded this Examinant, Thomas Deegan, to
Assist him in the Kings name to keep said Brennan for said
Murder upon which Examinant Complyed with and took said
Brennan by the left Arm and there kept said Brennan for near
Ten Minutes when
Patrick Brennan, Dennis Brennan and James
Brennan, Brothers of said
Michael Brennan came up in a most
violent manner and by force took and Rescued said
Michael
Brennan and thereby set him at Liberty then some Friends of
said Mr. Waters and Examinant came up and advised Examinant
and said Waters to Immediately Quit the Field and go home or
further Murder would Ensue upon which Examinant and Waters Quited the field and came home and about the hour of Six
O'Clock on said night he heard said McDarby was Conveyed in
a Car from said Field to Bridewell Lane in Carlow near to
where Examinant Lives then he went to the house where said
McDarby was Brought into and Saw a number of the Neighbours
Putting said McDarby into bed and there he remained
Languishing Speechless until Sometime on said Night when
said Captain Waters came to said house and Desired the woman
of the house to send to him for any thing that might be
wanting for the dying man and he would send it upon which
Examinant then went home and about the hour of Eight or nine
O'Clock on the morning of Sunday following he came to see
said McDarby and then and there saw him Patrick McDarby Dead
and Layed out as a Corpse and Examinant Believes it was by
the means of said Stroke of the Hurl McDarby came by his
Death.
(signed) Thomas his X mark Deegan.