Richard Roney "Hurling match
Incident!" 1785
By kind permission of
Michael Purcell
Presentation before Benjamin Bunbury, one of
his Majestys Magistrates.
Evidence
of Richard Roney of Carlow, Labourer,
Swears that on Saturday 26th November
1785 he went to a field near Graigue in the
Queen's County to see a Hurling match when
he saw Patrick McDarby who was a Judge
appointed that day stoop down and take up a
ball they were hurling with.
Immediately
after he saw
Michael Brennan
of Monenure,
Farmer, of the Queen's County come to Back
of McDarby and without any other provocation
there and then with both his hands gave
McDarby a most Desperate Stroke of the hurl
on the Right Temple by which McDarby fell on
his face on the Ground Motionless,
Extended for death upon which
Examinant ran up and Turned McDarby upon his
back and then helped to strip his Arm in
order to have him Blooded which was
Accordingly done but did not in the least
seem to recover him upon which Examinant
turned about and saw
Michael Brennan in the
Custody and keeping of Captain Waters
of
Carlow and saw
Patrick Brennan, one of
Michael Brennan's
brothers, come up to
Mr.
Waters with a hurl in his hand and Swore
Bitterly if said Mr. Waters did not let his
brother go he would Cleave him with the hurl
and Branished the hurl over Mr. Waters head
upon which Mr. Waters being in Danger and
Peril of his Life Singled himself from the
Crowd that Assembled and by that means let
Michael Brennan
Escape.
Examinant Told Michael Brennan
that he
had Murdered the man upon which Michael
Clapped his hand and said "Oh did I?" .
Examinant then returned to
McDarby and
found him in a Dying way upon which they
removed him to a Little hill for the Benefit
of the Air and there left him with a number
of persons who seemed to be Careful of him.
Then Examinant returned to Carlow the
place of his abode and there heard that they
were bringing McDarby in a Car and heard
what house he was put into and went to see
him about the hour of nine or Ten O'Clock
and Remained in the house Sometime until
McDarby was there. Blooded which did not seem
to recover him in the Least. About the hour
of Seven O'Clock on the morning of Sunday he
came to the said house and saw Patrick
McDarby Lying dead which he believes that it
was from a Stroke of said hurl so Given by
Michael Brennan that said
McDarby came by
his death.
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(signed) Richard Roney,
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(signed) Mathew Humpfrey,