Trial of Michael KENNEDY and six others

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Clare Index
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TRIAL OF MICHAEL KENNEDY AND SIX OTHERS, COUNTY CLARE

Special Commission, A report of trials of Co Clare, 1848, PP
166-177 [Trial of M Kennedy, M Murphy, D Kennedy, T Hogan, D
McNamara, J Slattery and J Rochford ? 1847]

For carrying away arms and assaulting an habitation.

Same Jury.

Michael Kennedy, Michael Murphy, Denis Kennedy, Thomas
Hogan, Daniel M'Namara, John Slattery and John Rochford,
were given in charge on an indictment that they, on the 26th
of September 1847, at Ballyboy in the county of Clare, did
unlawfully and maliciously assault the dwelling-house of
Thomas Hennessy.

The second count charged that they did unlawfully carry away
a gun, the property of Thomas Hennessy.

First Witness.

THOMAS HENNESSY sworn. -- Examined by the Attorney-General.

I am the son of Michael Hennessy. I lived with him at
Ballyboy in the county of Clare. I was in the house the
night a party came to the house. It was on the 25th of
September, or in the morning of the 26th. My father, a
servant boy named John Barry, myself, and the family were in
the house. I was in the bed at the time. I was awoke by the
bolt of the kitchen door being broken. Three men came in the
room. I slept in the room behind the fire-place. They made a
blow at me with the butt of a gun, which struck my wife and
part of the bed. They were armed with three guns and a
pistol. I asked if they intended murder; they then made
another stroke, and put the gun through the camp bed. I then
took hold of the gun, and took the man who had it by the
arm; his name was Michael Murphy. --- [Witness identified
the prisoner Michael Murphy as the man who had the gun.] --
He was the first man who came into the room. ---- [Witness
identified the prisoners John Slattery and Daniel M'Namara
as the other two men who came into the room.] --- I took
hold of that gun, and Slattery commenced beating me with the
butt-end of a gun. He demanded where the gun was, and I told
him I had it not, that it was at my uncle's. This occurred
when I was up in the room. They remained from fifteen to
twenty minutes. They beat me then. Slattery broke a piston
on my head. They then brought me outside the room door. I
had no clothes on, and I wanted to put some clothes on. They
forced me to go with them to my uncle's. They wanted the
shot-pouch and powder-horn. I did not give it to them. I
told them to let some of them go to my uncle's house, and
for others to remain, and that they would find me true, or
to let me put on my clothes, and I would go with them. They
were putting me outside the door at this time. They put me
out in the street, and I stopped there four or five minutes
without my clothes. There was another man in the kitchen
besides those three, and one of them said "That was enough."
I heard but one man in the kitchen along with the other
three. He said, while they were in the act of beating me in
my own room, "That was enough." I heard a noise in my
father's room as if beating my father. He told me he got but
two strokes, one on the jaw, another in the ribs. He is
about seventy years old. When I was going out of the room I
snatched up an old shift. I was forced out against my will.
We remained outside the door in the street about four or
five minutes. My uncle's house is about three hundred
perches from my house. When I was in the yard I knew Thomas
Hogan. --- [Witness identified the prisoner Thomas Hogan.]
--- There was two men outside the door; one of them is not
here; the other man is Rochford. --- [Witness could not
identify Rochford.] --- I saw in the room Murphy, M'Namara,
and Slattery. I saw Thomas Hogan in the street. As soon as I
came out, Hogan made off towards his own house. I did not
see any of the other men. Michael Kennedy was on the watch,
about twenty or twenty-five perches from the house. He did
not join the party on the way to my uncle's house. He did
not join the party on the way to my uncle's house. I am
certain he was on the watch while others were attacking the
house. His brother was about forty perches from the house,
with his head to the wall. They put me on the road; and one
of the party asked him who he was, and one of them, I think
it was Slattery, said, he was one of their men. Daniel
Kennedy said nothing; he was about fifteen yard from us at
the time. Daniel Kennedy then went inside the wall, and lay
there until we passed by. On your way to your uncle's did
you meet with any other person? --- Rochford came up, but I
cannot identify him. They brought me to my uncle's house.
They were prodding me with a gun to hasten me. Murphy,
M'Namara, Slattery, and Rochford came with me. Slattery,
when we were near my uncle's, said I knew him, and he
desired Rochford to stand out of the way until he would
shoot me. M'Namara said he would be allow no murder to be
done, and put his hand on my shoulder to protect me. I told
them they might as well shoot me as the punishment I was
getting. When I got near the house, M'Namara and Murphy
turned on one side, and Slattery and Rochford came with me
to the house. Slattery threw me against some thorns. When we
got to the house I called for the gun. My uncle opened the
door, and I asked for the gun, and his son handed out the
gun to Slattery and Rochford. I am not quite sure the
prisoner Rochford is the man. Rochford lived within two
miles of me. They took hold of the gun and began to fight
for it. One said to the other, "You had a gun before." They
took away the gun. One of them fired a shot. I went into my
uncle's house. All the arms I saw was three guns and a
pistol. It was Slattery gave me the entire beating. I got
besides only one blow that Murphy gave me. Slattery lived
within two miles of me. Their faces were not blackened. They
had whiskey taken. M'Namara, Murphy, Slattery, and Rochford
lived in the same village. The Kennedys and Hogan lived in
the same village with myself. It was a moonlit night. I had
nothing on me but the old shift I brought with me. I am
quite positive of those men.

Cross-examined by Mr. O'Hea [Thomas Hennessy being cross-
examined]

Are you a great pet with the magistrates and the police? ---
I cannot say that I am.

Where have you been since the outrage was committed? --- I
was part of the time in the infirmary, part of the time at
home, and part of the time in the barrack for the protection
of my life. I was eight days in the infirmary. I was but a
few days at home.

Were you a week at home? --- I was in or about one
fortnight. I intended to get my gun, and went to one of the
prisoners, and told him I knew the party, and that if I did
not get my gun, I would put him in its place. I have him
eight days to get it back.

Did you put him in the place of it? --- Not at that time.

Were you afraid? --- Not at that time. I might be so from
the state of the country.

Were you sure of all these men from the commencement? --- I
was.

You never doubted Rochford from the commencement until this
day? --- I did not. I am now certain it is he. I think it is
he.

Have you any doubt of him? --- I have not a doubt.

Why did you swear you had? --- I was not altogether sure.

What cleared up the doubt? --- He is nearer to me now than
he was at that time.

Why did you say you had a doubt? --- Because I did not like
to do any thing I was not perfectly sure of. I know Margaret
Keshan. She is a cousin of mine. She spoke to me about
Rochford. She said Rochford was in the house with her until
four o'clock in the morning.

Will you swear to him now? --- I will now.

Was it true when you said you were not sure of him? --- It
was true.

And now you are sure? --- I am.

Was that true? --- It was not. I had a doubt on my mind.

Did you swear against Tom Kennedy? --- I put him in my
information; but if I was not sure, I would not swear to
him.

Mr. O'Hea here read the information made by the witness, in
which he stated Thomas Kennedy was one of the party.

I told Mr. Leyne I was in doubt of one of the party. I told
him I could not swear against Thomas Kennedy. I told him I
was not sure of him.

Yet Captain Leyne put him in the information? --- He did.
There was but two of them close to the door. Flannagan and
Hogan were there.

Did you tell Mr. Leyne about the man threatening to shoot
you? --- I cannot say whether I did or not. It was the case.
I would have been shot only for M'Namara.

Did you say any other persons attacked you? --- I do not
know whether I did or not. John Fitzgerald told me a few
nights before to sell the gun for whatever I would get for
it. I told Fitzgerald I heard there was other persons in it,
that there was twenty-one persons out that night. I saw only
nine of them.

Did you think Tom Kennedy was one of them? --- I could not
say he was with them. I heard he was out that night. I
thought he was one of them, but I still have a doubt on my
mind.

Were you charged with any offense? --- I was not.

Was your head astray? --- No

Were you out of your mind during the last two years? ---
No."

Chief Baron. --- Was your wife struck? --- She only received
part of the blow; the bed received part. The second blow
smashed the board of the bed.

Mr. O'Hea. --- Did you hear of a reward 50 [pounds]? --- I
did.

Was that out before your information was sworn? --- It was.
But I told it before. The day before I swore my information
I read of the reward. I met constable Creagh, and he asked
me would I follow up what I told constable Meredith. I told
Meridith the next morning after the offence. I told them all
to him, but the three others I did not know, and that if He
took Kennedy the others would make off.

To a Juror. --- My father holds twelve acres of land.

Second Witness.

MICHAEL HENNESSY sworn. --- Examined by Mr. Bennett.

I am father to the last witness. I live in the same house
with him. I was in the house the night it was attacked.. I
saw two men in my own room. They beat me. When they broke in
the street door, I demanded who it was and got no answer.
One of them broke my door and asked me was there any fire-
arms. I said I did not know. He then came and struck me a
blow on the jaw and rib. I cried out "mercy," and I got no
more from them. I could not tell who they were. The next day
when speaking to my son, I said, "You must know who were
there," and he said, "Hold your tongue, I have them caught.

Cross-examined by Mr. O'Hea.

Did not Hogan come out of his house to protect you? --- He
did in a couple of hours.

Was he not sent for to protect you? --- I do not know that.

Was your daughter-in-law in the house that night? --- She
was.

Who did she send for Hogan? --- She sent no person; but when
she called John Fitzgerald to send for the police, he said
to send for Hogan. Hogan came two hours later. A servant boy
named Barry, and Pat Hennessy, was in the small room with
me.

Third Witness.

PATRICK READY sworn. --- Examined by the Solicitor-General.

I know Thomas Hennessy's house. I live near it. I am a
labourer. I remember the night Hennessy's house was
attacked. I was outside my own house minding turnips. My
house is less than a quarter of a mile from Hennessy's. I
met the party going to attack the house of Considine, and I
followed them, and on my way back I passed Hennessy's house.
I saw one man come out of Hennessy's house and stand in the
yard. That man was Tom Hogan. --- [Witness identified the
prisoner Hogan.] --- That was the first man who came out of
the house. This was after twelve o'clock. I was about
seventeen or eighteen yards away at the time, and when he
came across the field facing towards his own house. It was
as bright a night as came across these twelve months. It was
moonlit. Hogan lived next door to me. He passed near me on
his way home. At the time I was standing inside the wall of
Hennessy's field. When I was passing the house I heard a
noise; I saw Tom Hennessy; he was bare naked. He had
somethin g white in his hand. They went down the road to the
next cross facing his uncle's house. There was four men with
Tom Hennessy. I then went home.

Had any of them arms? --- They had. Three of them I am sure
had arms. They had guns. Hogan had nothing in his hand.

Cross-examined by Mr. O'Hea.

I told Mr. Leyne I saw them. Have you a case of your own?
--- I have.

Where was your own case? --- In Cappagh, in Considine's
house.

How far is Considine's from Hennessy's? --- It is about one
and a-half or two miles.

What took you to Considine's? --- I was minding turnips, and
I saw the party and followed them; and when I came back I
saw Hogan come out of Hennessy's house. I did not wait until
the party came out from Considine's. I remained a good
distance from them. I stood behind a wall looking over it. I
kept within fifty or sixty yards of them. The party had two
guns.

Was it the same party came back from Considine's to
Hennessy's? --- It was not, for I left the party in
Considine's.

Your were three hours coming back? --- I came quietly,

How many men went to Considine's? --- Five men. I went to
the front of the house. I knew them, and I am to swear
against them. I told Mr. Leyne of it before the Special
Commission. I am in the police barrack since the 16th of
November. I told Hennessy before I told Mr. Leyne. Hennessy
told me nothing.

To the Chief Baron. --- I saw four men come out of the house
besides Hogan. I did not know any of them.

To Mr. O'Hea. --- I came from Broadford. I am two or three
years living in my present place. I am a labourer.

Did you apply to Mr. Healy for work? --- I did.

Did you say if did not get work you would starve? ---- I did
not.

To a Juror. --- I was not one of the party.

What made you follow them? --- Seeing they were going to do
mischief, I followed them.

Who did you first tell you knew Hogan? --- I told Tom
Hennessy.

Fourth Witness.

Constable JOHN NORTHEAST sworn. --- Examined by Mr. Plunket.

I was stationed in Ennis in October last. I know John
Slattery's house. I searched his house for him after the
attack. I searched his house but once. I did not find him at
home. I searched his house in the neighbourhood of Clare.

To Mr. O'Hea. --- Slattery is a carman, and is in the habit
of taking loads to Limerick.

Fifth Witness.

Sub-constable MICHAEL GLYNN sworn. --- Examined by Mr.
Plunket.

I know the prisoner John Slattery. I arrested him on the
26th of October at Meelick, three miles from Limerick. I
asked him his name, and he said it was John O'Dea, and
supported that until he came to the barrack of Clare; his
name was there recognized, and he then acknowledged to his
name being John Slattery.

To Mr. O'Hea. --- He told me his mother's name was O'Dea.

To Mr. Plunket. --- I arrested him on suspicion of his being
Slattery. I told him I had a suspicion he was Slattery. I
asked him his name, and he said it was John O'Dea. I told
him the charge I arrested him on. I told him immediately
after I arrested him. I told him I arrested him on suspicion
of being one of a party who made an attack on Buncraggy.

Constable Thomas Meredith sworn.

Solicitor-General. --- We tender this witness for cross-
examination.

Mr. O'Hea. --- Did Hennessy tell you there were twenty
persons of the party? --- No; I think he said only five. I
am certain he mentioned five. he might have named six. He
gave Christian-names of three, and the sirnames of three
others.

To the Attorney-General. --- That part of the country was
disturbed at that time.

The Case for the prosecution here closed.

Mr. O'Hea then addressed the jury.

Gentlemen of the Jury, the only question here is as to the
identity of the persons who committed this outrage. Only one
of the prisoners is affected by two witnesses; but the whole
of the case is affected by the production of the second
witness. What was Ready produced for? If Hennessy was to be
relied on there could be no mistake. Ready makes no
information. Is that right? You may fill the convict ship
upon evidence such as that, but will that benefit the
country? What is his story? Watching his turnips, he meets a
party, follows them, and marks them into a house, comes back
and hits upon another party. Can you rely upon such a story
as that? He makes no information. We have no means of
ascertaining his life or character; but he comes suddenly
upon us to add what he could to the testimony of the other
witness. A savage outrage is committed; and do you suppose
that lad, in the custody of the police, a Special Commission
coming down, that that would not encourage him to come
forward? If a man was telling the truth, he should come
forward at once, that the party charged might know his
accuser; but if Hennessy was to be relied on, what need had
they of him; and if his evidence was considered necessary,
why did he not make an information?

But what is the evidence of Hennessy? The policeman tells
you he named five of them, but he does not tell you who the
others are; and the man who makes a mistake as to one man,
is not worthy of credit in a Court of Justice. You heard
what he said of Rochford, and the reason he had for not
identifying. Further he tells you that the magistrate
inserted a name in the information, which he directed to be
taken out. Is that credible? Is it to be believed that a
magistrate would insert the name of a person into an
information, which the witness states he is not sure of? Can
you rely on him? Again, to-day he swears against two of the
Kennedys; in his information he names three. If the
prosecutor had died of the injury he suffered in
consequence, and Kennedy had been arrested, and he had
acknowledged his information, Kennedy might lose his life.
That shows you the great importance of an information. As to
the prisoner M'Namara, I am instructed we will be able to
prove that he brought goods from Limerick on the very night
in question; so that he could not have been present at the
scene of the outrage. As to Hogan, we will be able to prove
that he was sent for by the wife of this man to come and
protect her.

JOHN FITZGERALD sworn. --- Examined by Mr. O'Hea.

I remember the night Hennessy's was attacked. I know Mrs.
Hennessy. She called me from my bed that night. I live
within two houses of her. She called me from my bed that
night. I live within two houses of her. She called me to go
for the police to Clare, and I refused to go. I went for Tom
Hogan, and returned with him. Hogan came to the door in his
shirt when I knocked at the window. I waited until he was
dressed, and then we came back to Hennessy's house. Thomas
Hennessy came into the house after we came there. He made no
charge against Hogan. Hennessy was put to bed. Hogan helped
him to bed. The servant boy Barry was there also.

Cross-examined by the Attorney-General.

My house is within a hundred perches of Hennessy's house. I
was in bed when Mrs. Hennessy came to me. Hogan's house is
half a mile from my house. Hogan and I were in Hennessy's
house before Hennessy came back. I did not see any of the
party, nor did I hear them. We were three-quarters or half
and hour in the house before Hennessy came back. He said he
was very much beaten. Did Hennessy say to Hogan, "I may
thank you for it?" --- He did not. There was no light in
Hogan's house when I went there. Hogan's was not the nearest
house to me. Hogan is a second cousin of Hennessy's. Hogan
and I remained in the house until it was clear day.

MICHAEL DILLON sworn. --- Examined by Mr. O'Hea.

I am a servant to Tom Hogan. I remember Tom Hogan being
called up the night Hennessy was beat. I slept with Hogan
that night. His father and mother were in another bed in the
house. When he was called, he got up and went to the window,
and he then put on his clothes and went away. He did not
leave the bed that night before. He went to bed about ten
o'clock.

Cross-examined by the Solicitor-General.

I slept with Tom Hogan. His father and mother slept in
another bed, and the servant girl in another. I could not
tell what time he was called up. I do not know how long he
was in bed. I had been asleep. I was awoke at the time he
went to the window.

Were you awake before Fitzgerald came? --- I was.

How long? --- I do not know how long.

How do you know that Hogan was asleep? --- Because a man
knocked at the door, and his mother asked who was there? and
I called Hogan, and told him Fitzgerald was at the window. I
was up when he came back.

JOHN BARRY sworn. --- Examined by Mr. O'Hea.

I remember the time Hennessy was beat. I was a servant in
the house at the time. I remember Mrs. Hennessy going out,
and Hogan and Fitzgerald coming to the house, and putting
him to bed.

JOHN MAGRATH sworn. --- Examined by Mr. O'Hea.

I keep a shop in Clare. I remember the 24th of September
last. I left Clare that night between eleven and twelve
o'clock. That was the night before Hennessy was attacked. I
went into Limerick that night. M'Namara and Brennan, two
carmen, were with me. We left Limerick the next day closing
four o'clock, and we reached Clare between four and five
o'clock in the morning. That was on Saturday night, the 25th
of September. The cars were heavily laden.

Cross-examined by Mr. Plunket.

We stopped at Bunratty. We got there about dusk. We reached
Bunratty about seven o'clock. We stopped there an hour and
a-half or two hours. M'Namara was with me. We did not stop
after we left Bunratty. We did not stop at Newmarket. I
bought flour and meal in several places through the city
that day. M'Namara was often a carman with me before. We
were driving all Saturday night, and we arrived on Sunday
morning. I went to bed after the load was delivered, and I
got up between first and second mass, when I heard of the
house being attacked. M'Namara does not live in my house. He
lives on the Commons of Clare. M'Namara did not leave me
after we got to Clare, until we had refreshment.

DANIEL BRENNAN sworn. --- Examined by Mr. O'Hea.

I came from Limerick the day before Hennessy's house was
attacked. I was driving a car that night. We left Limerick
about four o'clock. M'Namara the prisoner was with me that
night. The road was dry, but a deal of it was newly made. We
stopped in Bunratty, and fed our horses there. We had a good
load.

Cross-examined by the Attorney-General.

Daniel M'Namara was with me. He always goes with the horses.
His brother is a carman. His name is Michael. He has a horse
and car of his own. I often carried with him.

Do you recollect driving with Magrath and M'Namara any night
before that? --- I do not know rightly. I often travelled
with Magrath before. I often travelled with M'Namara, but I
am not sure that Magrath was with us. We had two tons five
hundred weight between us. We carried flour, soap, candles,
and other things. All the flour was not bought in the same
place. What I carried was bought at Quinlivan's store. We
left Clare at twelve o'clock on Friday night, and we got
into Limerick about seven o'clock the following morning. We
did not put up our horses in the stable.

Charge.

The Chief Justice.

Gentlemen of the Jury, the sole question in this case is, as
to the identity of the prisoners. As to one of them,
Rochford, he is not identified at all. The two Kennedys were
not in the house, and were only seen by Hennessy after he
was at some distance from his house; and when you consider
the state that man was in at the time, I do not think you
would be safe in relying on his identification. But then
there remain Thomas Hogan, Michael Murphy, Daniel M'Namara,
and John Slattery. With respect to Hogan, he was certainly
sent for by Hennessy's wife. He came to the assistance of
the family at once, and was at the house before Hennessy
returned, and assisted in helping him to bed; but he is
positively sworn to, both by Hennessy and Ready, as being
one of the party. Now, there is no impossibility in Hogan's
being there; and the question is, were both witnesses
wilfully swearing what was not true. If you believe them,
Hogan was one of the party. As to the other persons,
Hennessy appears to have had a continued opportunity of
identifying them. He says three had guns and one had a
pistol, and he positively identifies Murphy, M'Namara, and
Slattery. He, therefore, must be guilty of wilful perjury,
if they be not the persons; for the mistake is out of the
question. --- [His Lordship recapitulated the evidence of
Hennessy.]

If the evidence given for the defence be true, all his story
must be a perfect fiction: and it is for you to decide which
you will give credit to.

The jury retired for a quarter of an hour, and returned with
a verdict of Guilty against Murphy, Slattery and M'Namara,
with a recommendation on behalf of M'Namara, and acquitting
the other three.

Sentence.

The Chief Justice then addressed them as follows: ---

JOHN SLATTERY, you have been convicted of a very serious
offence; and the jury, by the discrimination which marks
their verdict, have shown that it is entitled to the utmost
weight and consideration which belongs to a case requiring a
patient, calm and dispassionate consideration; for, perhaps,
an outrage of a more barbarous character has scarcely ever
occurred even in this disturbed county. Thomas Hennessy was
known to be in the possession of a gun, and in order to
possess themselves of that gun, a party consisting of nine
persons, perhaps of twenty, all armed, attacked his house in
the dead of night. They drag him from his bed in a state of
perfect nudity in order to procure those fire-arms. You
acted with a greater degree of violence and barbarity than
the other prisoners, and the sentence of the Court is, that
you be transported for fourteen years; and let those who
hear your case reflect on the enormity of your guilt: and I
can only add, if a severer punishment had been inflicted, it
would have been well merited.

MICHAEL MURPHY, you have been convicted of the same offence,
but your conduct has not been marked with the same atrocity,
and the Court, therefore, will pronounce upon you a more
mitigated punishment. You are to be transported for seven
years.

DANIEL M'NAMARA, the jury have recommended you to mercy; and
you having shown some degree of feeling towards this
unfortunate man, and having regard to that and to the
recommendation of the jury, the sentence of the Court is,
that you be imprisoned for twelve months, with hard labour.

The Court adjourned at seven o'clock.

Reference:

Special Commission, A report of trials of Co Clare, 1848, PP
166-177

Repository: Local Studies Library, Ennis, Co Clare, Ireland

Visited library 30 April 2007