on the peak of the Land warfare in 1881, a dispute over land resulted in the capturing lifeless of a tender guy referred to as Peter Doherty close to Craughwell, Co. Galway. severe police investigations found informers whose perjured testimony earlier than packed juries led to the conviction of 2 blameless males, Patrick Finnegan and Constable Michael Muldowney. This e-book includes a forensic research of the pains that led to the sort of grave miscarriage of justice. unique learn in fundamental resources has exposed the function of informers, the funds made to them and their eventual ‘disposal’ by way of the Dublin citadel professionals. Following commutation of the demise sentences, all the prisoners served a time period of 20 years penal servitude they usually turned referred to as the ‘Craughwell prisoners’. The reviews of the prisoners in Mountjoy and Maryborough jails are printed from the legal documents, which additionally include their heartfelt pleas for liberate and pardon, and affirmations in their innocence.

Pat Finnegan is Professor Emeritus, NUI Galway, and a retired advisor healthcare professional, collage sanatorium Galway.

‘Pat Finnegan specializes in occasions in 19th-century south Galway, illuminating the complicated components underlying the land battle … he makes use of the occasions that encompass the arrest of Muldowney, and his grandfather, Pat Finnegan, to ascertain the operation of the judicial method within the west of eire within the overdue 19th century … This e-book is a good dependent and lucid neighborhood and private historical past that inserts itself into the wider ancient photo. it truly is a fascinating own account [and] an soaking up learn … an ancient “whodunit”, awesome in illuminating the tensions which made the judiciary and constabulary so fearful to make an instance and safe a conviction that they sacrificed considered one of their own', Madeleine O'Neill, magazine of the Galway Archaeological and old Society (2014).

‘The tale of the crime, the rigors, the commutation of the sentences, the imprisonment for nearly twenty years and the next lives of the 2 blameless males is a riveting one, and a invaluable perception right into a international that's long gone forever', Tuam usher in (May 2012).

‘It reads like a detective secret, however the case of the Craughwell Prisoners, a brand new booklet written by means of retired affiliate Professor of medication at NUI Galway, Professor Pat Finnegan, is way greater than that. It’s a deeply own tale approximately his grandfather, Pat Finnegan, who, in 1884, along RIC Constable Michael Muldowney, was once wrongly convicted of murder', Judy Murphy, Galway urban Tribune (May 2012).

‘Pat Finnegan is to be counseled for vacationing a forgotten point of the Land battle in southeast Galway that exposes a grave miscarriage of justice as officialdom overlooked contradictions and lies brought as proof of their choice to safe a conviction at any rate … This booklet deals a fascinating perception into agrarian crime and the ends to which the govt might visit get a conviction in an try to carry balance to the nation-state. Finnegan is an empathetic writer, yet is cautious and balanced in his arguments as he exposes the varied flaws within the criminal process because it grappled with severe agrarian crime', Brian Casey, Irish Literary complement (Fall 2013).

‘Many books at the Land struggle preserve to the overall photo or to the renowned political contributors concerned, so it makes for a fascinating switch for one to target the “ordinary” humans stuck up within the sweep of occasions … Dr Finnegan writes with massive aspect at the tale … [He] indicates his strengths as a researcher as he methodically examines the trial practices on the time … The case of the 2 males continues to be an emblem for the time, with all its uncertainty and strife, and Dr Finnegan’s research of it may be an invaluable accompaniment to someone attracted to the era', Daniel Murray, The Irish tale (April 2013).