Daniel Casey

71

Robin Sharkey on 30th September 2023

Casey was given Conditional Pardon dated 20th February, 1849 available everywhere, except in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland [SMH 18 April 1849 p.2]

71

Robin Sharkey on 30th September 2023

Daniel Casey, Michael Leahy, and John Sullivan were convicted of the rape of Mary Cronin at Kenmare in County Kerry on 15 December 1835 on the day of the town’s fair. All three were transported for Life, arriving together in NSW on the convict ship “St Vincent” in 1837. Casey and Leahy were both aged 21 and unmarried, and tailors by occupation. Sullivan (also known as Danagher) was a 20 year old unmarried labourer. “On the 15th [December], the fair day of Kenmare, five ruffians named Donohue, Leahy, Casey, and Sullivan seized a girl named Mary Cronin in the crowded streets of that town and, in open day, and having carried her by force into an adjacent field, there brutally violated her person. The poor creature was subsequently found in a weak and languishing condition.” Kerry Evening Post, Wed 23 Dec 1835 p.3: Further details of the men: “The police, under the command of Benjamin Jackson Esq, went in pursuit immediately on hearing of the outrage and brought back the poor girl. In the course of the night they succeeded in apprehending three of the perpetrators and one on the following day, all of whom have been fully identified and committed by the Reverend B. Herbert to abide their trial at the ensuing assizes. The names of the fellows concerned are: John O’Donohoe [a married man]; Daniel Casey, Michael Leahy [tailors]; John Sullivan (labourer); and John Kelly (a married man), labourer. Sullivan has succeeded in evading the active search made for him.” The Freemans Journal, 1 January 1836, p.3 John Kelly is not otherwise referred to in the trials, nor is John O’Donohoe. Sullivan, Casey, and Leahy postponed their trial (due to be held in the March sessions at the Kerry Assizes), remaining in custody. [Kerry Evening Post, 12 March 1836, p.2] Their trial was held at the summer Assizes, in July. They were convicted on Tues, 19 July 1836. Sentence of death was passed on Friday 22 July. “The learned judge gave them no hope of mercy or mitigation of the extreme rigour of the law. The jury recommended John Sullivan (Danagher) to mercy in consequence of the prosecutrix not clearly proving that to her knowledge he had actually participated in the crime, she having fainted. He was however actually engaged in the forcible abduction.” The three were convicted of “violating, by force, the person of Mary Cronin and sentenced to be hanged on Saturday the 13th of [August]” [Kerry Evening Post, Sat 23 July 1836 p.3]. As at 10th August, no reprieve from death had been received for the men. Sullivan, having been recommended to mercy, had got ‘sentence of death recorded’, and no time fixed for his execution but no reprieve either. [Kerry Evening Post, Wed 10 August 1836, p.3] The three did have their sentences commuted to transportation for life. They were “on Thursday morning last [i.e. 18 August 1836], removed from the county gaol under the governor, Mr Murphy, and have since been safely lodged in the convict Hulk at Cove, for transmission to their ultimate miserable destination.” [Kerry Evening Post, Sat 27 August 1836 p.2]. They set sail for NSW on 13th September 1836. *********************