Farrell describes Patrick’s sad fate:
This was the case of Mr. Patrick Hackett of Graigue, Carlow.
This
man who was never a United Irishman and who of course considered himself
safe from any information, was taken on suspicion. He was a man nearly
six feet high and apparently of great bodily strength, but . . . he
would not hurt the hair of a fly’s head. He was one of the wealthiest
men where he lived, being extensive in the grocery and spirit trade, and
also kept a porter and punch house and had a house full of children.
Wherever he went, to funeral or any other public meeting, he was always
‘King of the Gregory,’ for if there were twenty in company he invariably
treated them all. In short he had the esteem of everyone, rich and poor,
and a child might play with honest Paddy Hackett, as he was familiarly
called.
In the course of a few days . . . Major Dennis came to the jail and
questioned Hackett with the most searching scrutiny. As there was no
information whatever against the man, he was liberated and sent home to
his family. He had been home only about a week when a trial came on in
the barrack, at which some unfortunate man who had been flogged and cut
to it, mentioned that a meeting was held at Hackett’s house . . . He was
asked if Hackett was the person who attended and brought them drink and
if he took any part in the proceedings. He replied that he did bring
them drink but did not sit down in the company, but stood and spoke to
them and heard their conversation . . . He was then asked if he was not
considered a United Irishman ... He said he had no doubt of his being
one.
This was considered sufficient and a guard was instantly ordered to
go and bring him prisoner ... Of course he was made a prisoner without
delay and brought to the barrack where on that shadow of evidence ... he
was in the course of an hour hanged up in the barrack yard. He was about
forty years of age in the full strength of manhood . . . His death
brought ruin on his family. His wife struggled on for a few years but
... the business, for want of his superintendence declined until at
length the whole property was nearly gone and the wife died leaving the
children to struggle through a cold uncertain world”.
DENNIS CAREW
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