Pat Purcell Papers
Bunbury Papers extract
"Hurling match
Incident!"
By kind permission of
Michael Purcell
Note made by Mr. Purcell:
Interesting case, The first 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 stop the bleeding). Subsequently Michael Brennan
was arrested and charged with murder. I do not , as
yet, know what happened to him.
Saturday 26th November 1785
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.
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His |
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(signed) |
Thomas
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X |
Deegan |
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Mark |
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Note by Mr. Purcell: