Ronald Ryan - Execution

Execution

On the night before the execution Ryan was transferred to a cell just a few steps away from the gallows trapdoor. Father Brosnan was with him most of this time. At the eleventh hour Ryan wrote his last letters to his family members, to his defence counsel, to the Anti-Hanging Committee and to Father Brosnan. The letters were handwritten on toilet paper inside his cell and neatly folded. In the documentary film The Last Man Hanged Ryan's letter to The Anti-Hanging Committee is read out loud to the public. Ryan wrote; " ... I state most emphatically that I am not guilty of murder." Ryan's last letter was to his daughters, it contained this line With regard to my guilt I say only that I am innocent of intent and have a clear conscience in the matter.

Ryan refused to have any sedatives but he did have a nip of whisky, and walked calmly onto the gallows trapdoor. Ronald Ryan's last words were to the hangman; "God bless you, please make it quick."

Ryan was hanged in 'D' Division at Pentridge Prison at 8:00 am on Friday 3 February 1967.

A nationwide three-minute silence was observed at the exact time that Ryan was hanged. Thousands of people protesting outside the prison knew the moment of the execution because the pigeons on the D Division roof all took flight.

Later that day, Ryan's body was buried in an unmarked grave within the "D" Division prison facility.