Later Executions
Between November 1923 and April 1954, there were a total of 35 executions in the state. In the 1920s, execution was relatively common for murderers. As had happened before independence, the British executioner came to Mountjoy to perform hangings. An Irishman sent to Britain as apprentice to Albert Pierrepoint was deemed to lack "the character to be an executioner".
The only woman executed after independence was Annie Walsh in 1925. She and her nephew blamed each other for the murder of her elderly husband. The press expected only the nephew to be found guilty, but both were. She was hanged aged 31 in spite of the jury recommending clemency.
During the state of emergency in World War II, increased IRA activity led to six executions. Charlie Kerins was hanged, while five were shot by firing squad after sentence by military tribunals under Emergency legislation. Of these, Maurice O' Neill and Richard Goss had shot but not killed Gardaí: the only people executed by the state for a non-murder crime.
Michael Manning was the last person executed in the state. He was hanged by Albert Pierrepoint for murder on 20 April 1954.
Read more about this topic: Capital Punishment In Ireland
Famous quotes containing the word executions:
“[Asserting] important First Amendment rights ... why should [executions] be the one area that is conducted behind closed doors?... Why shouldn’t executions be public?”
—Phil Donahue (b. 1935)