Major Sir Francis Fletcher Vane
A Dublin-born major in the Royal Munster Fusiliers, Sir Francis Fletcher Vane, was in overall charge of defence at Portobello Barracks but was not present when these executions took place. He arrived shortly afterwards, and was horrified at what had unfolded. He recognised the killings as murder, and called Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington.
He reported his views (that Bowen-Colthurst was mentally deranged) to the deputy commander of the garrison, Major Rosborough. Rosborough telephoned Dublin Castle and was told to bury the bodies. Vane subsequently travelled to London where he met Lord Kitchener in Downing Street on 3 May 1916. A telegram was sent to Sir John Maxwell, commander-in-chief of British forces in Ireland, ordering the arrest of Bowen-Colthurst, but Maxwell refused to arrest him.
Read more about this topic: Francis Sheehy-Skeffington
Famous quotes containing the words major, sir, francis and/or fletcher:
“The more you stay in this kind of job, the more you realize that a public figure, a major public figure, is a lonely man.”
—Richard M. Nixon (1913–1995)
“‘Tirra Tirra,’ by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.”
—Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892)
“Then came the Lord Chamberlain with his white staff,
And all the people began to laugh;
And then the Queen began to speak,
‘You’re welcome home, Sir Francis Drake.’”
—Unknown. Upon Sir Francis Drake’s Return from His Voyage about the World, and the Queen’s Meeting Him (l. 5–8)
“Come, all sad and solemn shows,
That are quick-eyed Pleasure’s foes!
We convent nought else but woes,
We convent nought else but woes.”
—John Fletcher (1579–1625)