Edmond Breen

343

Maureen Withey on 10th June 2026

Edmond Breen was found guilty of the murder of John Bibby ... Dublin Evening Post, 11 Aug 1835. I awaited the result of the inquest, to communicate to you the account of a dreadful murder, perpetrated Saturday last. John Bibby accompanied by a relative, Benjamin Bibby, was returning from Cashel, with potatoes, when they were met by four men, near Coolquil. who beat them so unmercifully that John died almost immediately, and his cousin Benjamin lies in hopeless state, but here the tragedy did not terminate. The account of the outrage having been brought to Bibby’s house, his sister and a servant woman hastened to the scene of murder, which was about a mile and a half distant, locking the door of then dwelling. the meantime Nicholas Bibby, father to the deceased, who had been from home returned inebriated and not being able to get into the house, delayed on the roadside, when was attacked and killed by the same ruffians, it is said, who murdered his son. The female servant who accompanied Bibby’s daughter to where her dead brother lay, found the equally unfortunate father near his own door, on her return, and before the car on which was the body of the son had arrived. The verdict of the inquest was, wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. The old man seemed to have been killed by blows of some heavy blunt instrument; was formerly in the police, and I believe had a pension ; he has since collected taxes, and has been told that he had the promise some land, now in the possession of persons under ejectment. Nothing could exceed the sensation produced throughout the whole country by this double murder —every one is loud in disapprobation of it, and it is hoped that justice will speedily overtake the perpetrators of this sanguinary crime. —Tipperary Free Press.  Waterford Mail, 2 July 1834. The Lord Lieutenant has offered £100 reward for the brutal murderers of Nicholas and John Bibby, father and son, last Saturday, on the high road, near Cashel;  Ballyshannon Herald, 4 July 1834. TIPPERARY SUMMER ASSIZES— Monday. Edward Breen was placed at the bar charged with the murder of John Bibby, near Cashel. Benjamin Bibby sworn—Was cousin to the deceased; overtook him outside Cashel; they were coming home together ; witness's wife was with him; she got on deceased's car ; witness went into a house to light his pipe; when be came out saw his cousin lying on the road, and four men over him;  witness was not minute away; they were about three perches from him ; witness stooped for a stone; they asked him was be going to his assistance, he said to be sure; they pelted witness with stones; witness returned to the house where he had lit his pipe, and the door was shut against him; witness made in by a gap across the field; the four men met him and knocked him down ; identified the prisoner as one of the men that were standing over his cousin, and knocked him down; when witness recovered he washed his head, and then went after his  cousin, who was on the car going home; John Bibby died the next day. John Halloran and Mary Bibby corroborated the evidence of the former witness. There was no witness called for the defence. The jury retired, and were in consultation nearly three hours, when they found the prisoner guilty. Dublin Weekly Register, 15 Aug 1835.

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greg petersen on 30th April 2017

Native of Tipperary Ireland & married with 2 children. On Aug 4th 1835 convicted of murder he was sentenced to life & transported on the ship “Hive”. The ship ran aground during the night of 10th December 1835, on the central part of Bherwerre Beach, Wreck Bay (south of present day Jervis Bay). The Captain John Nutting was in bed drunk & asleep at the time of the incident. Earlier he was reported to have said to his officers when they had shown concern regarding sailing directions set for the night, "One person is sufficient to navigate the ship!".