William Behan

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Maureen Withey on 30th October 2022

Denis Behan, Thomas Whelan, Pat. Dunne, William Behan, Thomas Dunne, and Patrick Nevan, were indicted for the murder of Michael Dowling. William Hill examined by Mr. Tirrell—Was returning from Maryborough on the of May last; heard the Behans and Dunnes that day shouting for the deceased, when going home; when he heard the shouting he looked back, and saw Dowling walking about forty yards with his hands in his pockets; Denis Behan then came up leaping and shouting for a Dowling ; witness then said he would not let him strike Dowling; witness and Behan argued along the road about Dowling; the Dunnes were coming after the Behans; witness identified four of the prisoners this was between seven and eight o’clock ; witness and ten of his friends had some liquor-five quarts of porter, and half a pint of brandy between them; witness did not go far down the road when got his jaw broken by a blow of a stone; Dowling said to witness do you hear those brats shouting for me; “Come on, said I, and don’t mind them, did not see him after that until he was brought into the infirmary; did not see Dowling killed get a blow ; Denis Behan had a stone in his band when he came up to witness. John Dowling examined by Mr. Clarke—ls brother to Michael Dowling; was in Maryborough on the 23rd of May, when he saw the prisoners there ; went home at seven o’clock: could go not home before that, because he saw the Dunnes and Behans at the corner, and was afraid of them, they having been prosecuted to conviction by witness’s friends, for an attack on and breaking their house; after that the Behans bore them an ill-will, often passing by their dwelling and shouting for a Dowling; on going down the road witness saw at a distance people throwing stones at a man who fell; he was then kicked in the belly when fell; witness did not go on but turned at the house of John Carter, when he saw bis brother returning with his head cut, and on one side; saw Tom Dunne, Pat Dunne, Denis Behan and Bill Behan throwing stones (identifies them in the dock;) these were the persons whom he saw throwing stones at the man ; his brother returned by Carter’s, from the direction which he saw the man beaten ; could not say his brother was the man that was beaten, but he returned with his head bleeding about six minutes after saw the man struck; when the man fell over the ditch those who were beating him cried out “Clean Behan;” witness’s brother lived 11 days after that, saw other person in the same state on that evening , in which his brother was. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter against all the prisoners named in the indictment. His Lordship sentenced all the prisoners to be transported for life, with the exception of Thomas Dunne, who was sentenced to be transported for seven years. Dublin Evening Mail, 23 July 1838. Denis Behan, Thomas Whelan, Pat. Dunne, William Behan, Thomas Dunne, and Patrick Nevan, were indicted for the murder of Michael Dowling. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. To be transported tor life. Mayo Constitution, 31 August 1838.

42

Lyn Hudson-Williamson on 30th October 2022

Arrived with his brother Denis Behan