Simon Downey

218

Dianne Jones on 18th July 2021

1869, 9 October: From the Freeman's Journal, p2: "ARRIVAL OF THE LIBERATED IRISH STATE PRISONERS IN SYDNEY. The Rangatira, with twenty five of the Amnestied State Prisoners on board, left Melbourne at about half-past four o'clock on last Saturday afternoon, but did not arrive in Sydney until some short time after eight on Tuesday morning. This detention was caused by a strong northerly breeze and head sea which the vessel encountered immediately on rounding Cape Howe. The Sub Committee appointed by the Central Committee of Sydney had secured apartments for them at the Italian Hotel, in north George street, and were at their post at the hour when the steamer was due. It had first, on the report of apprehended disturbance on the part of the Orangemen, been arranged that the subcommittee should engage a small steamer and take their friends off the Rangatira somewhere below Port Denison. This intention was abandoned because it might be subsequently alleged, by people who have shown some anxiety to misrepresent the real state of affairs, that the patriots were smuggled ashore. Accordingly the gentlemen deputed to receive the guests took their station on the wharf as soon as they learned that the steamer was coming up the harbour and awaited their arrival. The news of the arrival of "the Fenians" spread with astonishing rapidity in the vicinity, and crowds were immediately rushing to the water's side to catch a glimpse of the much dreaded revolutionists. By the time time the men had disembarked there were some hundreds on the wharf. There was not even the semblance of a demonstration on either side, not a voice was raised not a gesture made. Indeed save and except the numbers present not the least difference could be noticed between the landing of the ex-prisoners and the landing of an equal number of ordinary immigrants from the neighbouring colonies. The men then marched four abreast to the carriages waiting for them and were driven off to the hotel abovementioned. None of them seemed much the worse for their imprisonment, and all of them declared that bad as penal servitude in Western Australia was, it was infinitely preferable to incarceration in any of the English prisons. They are chiefly from Cork and Limerick, with a few from Dublin, as will be seen by the annexed list. They are very favourable specimens of the young and intelligent Irishmen of the present day, and are evidently imbued with a manly and patriotic spirit. We understand that none of them care about remaining in the colony; the great majority of them will return home to Ireland, and the remainder of them will proceed by the first opportunity to San Francisco. We were highly pleased to see that they were accorded a genuine Irish "Cead mille failthe" without the slightest pretext being given to certain parties, who shall be nameless for the present, at all events, to cry out that a "Fenian demonstration" was taking place, or that "old sores", whatever kind of wounds they may happen to be, were being ripped open once more. A constant tide of friends and sympathisers, anxious to clasp the hands of the patriots and to congratulate them on their release from their unmerited suffering, flowed through the rooms and threatened occasionally to become a decided nuisance to our gallant young countrymen. It must have been a great relief to them when the hand shaking terminated and they were allowed to retire and rest themselves after their protracted and disagreeable passage from the Sound. On one occasion two members of the detective force mingled with the throng in the room, and although they were instantly recognized there was no more notice taken of their presence than if they had been but a couple of cur dogs that followed the crowd. We regret that we are quite unable to say whether they were able to report anything important to their highly respected, intelligent, and efficient chief. Our friends are by no means confined in their movements, they ramble freely about the city, and so far as we can hear, they have been subjected to no unfriendly molestation or interference of any kind. Their quiet unostentatious and gentlemanly manner has favourably impressed both friends and foes, who have come in contact with them. We append a list of their names, place of birth, where convicted, and nature of sentence, which we make no doubt will prove interesting to many of our readers as by this means they can tell whether they have been acquainted in the old country with the prisoners, or their families:— 1. Mr. John Kenealy, born at Newmarket, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 10 years penal servitude. 2. Mr. Jeremiah O'Donovan, born at Blarney, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 3. Mr. John S. Casey, born at Mitchelstown, county Cork; convicted at Cork, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 4. Mr. Michael Moore, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, December 1865; sentence, 10 years penal servitude. 5. Mr. Patrick Dunne, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, December 1865; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 6. Mr. Denis B. Cashman, born at Waterford; convicted at Dublin, January 1866; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 7. Mr. John B. Walsh, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, January 1866; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 8. Mr. Patrick Doran, born at Dublin; convicted at Dublin, April 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 9. Mr. Eugene Lombard, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 10. Mr. Eugene Geary, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 11. Mr. David Joyce, born at Ballamacoda, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 12. Mr. Thomas Cullinane, born at Ballamacoda, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, hanged, drawn and quartered. 13. Mr. SIMON DOWNEY, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 14. Mr. Morgan McSweeny, born at Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 15. Mr. Denis Hennessy, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 16. Mr. Maurice Fitzgibbon, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 17. Mr. Thomas Daly, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 15 years penal servitude. 18. Mr. John Sheehan, born at Kilmallock, county Limerick; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 19. Mr. David Cummins, born at Youghal, county Cork; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 20. Mr Michael Noonan, born at Kilmallock; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 21. Mr. Patrick Riordan, born at Kilmallock; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 7 years penal servitude. 22. Mr. Patrick Leahy, born at Thurles, county Tipperary; convicted at Cork, May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 23. Mr. Thomas Fogarty, Kilfeacle, county Tipperary; convicted at Cork May 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 24. Mr. Robert May, born at Drogheda; convicted at Dundalk, August 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude. 25. Mr. Patrick Wall, born at Drogheda; convicted at Dundalk, August 1867; sentence, 5 years penal servitude.

218

Dianne Jones on 13th July 2021

1869, 9 June: Simon Downey is on a list of 35 Fenian prisoners "recently liberated in the colony"; that is, they were issued with Free Pardons (see Illustrated Sydney News, p3). --00-- 1870, 21 May: From the Freeman's Journal, p7: "ARRIVAL OF THE IRISH STATE PRISONERS AT CORK. GREAT EXCITEMENT. (From the Cork Herald.) The excitement which the expected arrival of the Fenian prisoners aroused in this city, and which the anxious waiting for them only intensified, culminated last evening when Messrs. Eugene Lombard, J. C. O'Donovan, Simon Downey, Morgan McSwiney, and Thomas Culhuane [Cochrane], of Ballymacoda, reached the city by the eight o'clock train. As on the previous evenings during the past week crowds assembled at the railway station, but their wonted enthusiasm reached a pitch of almost frantic joy when it became definitely known that the late prisoners were on their way to Cork. Around the station the people surged, seeking every means of obtaining a place on the platform ; but from an early hour the doors were barred, and every soul who approached them was excluded. Through King street the people were thronging fast, and the bands of the city were approaching, when a body of over one hundred police, under Messrs. Macleod, R.M., Starkie, R.M., Gunri, S.I, and Egan, S.I., drew up across King-street, at the corner of Harley-street and barred the passage effectually. The people still kept moving on, until a crowd had gathered where the police blocked the way, and one of the bands, with whom a large body of workmen walked, pushed up to reach the station, but the police fixed their bayonets and ordered them to halt. The command was obeyed, and though the people were told that they could pass along the Quay, they took no heed of the intimation, but held their place beside the police, while the bandsmen continued their music unconcernedly. At the station the crowd kept swelling to great proportions, as large bodies passed on by Penrose-quay, and joined those who had sought the place at an early hour. Inconvenience was felt by all, and there was severe crushing around the gates, until the arrival of the train brought the excitement and pressure to the climax. Through some unpardonable piece of stupidity one half of one door was thrown open; and as the multitude forced in there was no inconsiderable danger from the crushing. The crowd poured along the platform, scrambled over carriages, jostled porters, and other employees about in a most undignified manner, and cheered wildly and loudly while the released prisoners stepped out of the train. For ten minutes fully the crowd rolled around the group of men who were the recipients of this affecting welcome, and again and again gave proofs of their joy, in shouting and shaking hands. Through the still thronging masses the prisoners at length made their way, but the pressure behind them was so dreadful that many of the crowd were knocked down, and trampled and received slight injuries. The first cheers, which were caught up by the immense crowd that choked King-street in swaying masses, and again and again passed through the vast multitude, having subsided, the objects of this reception got into cars and drove through the crowd, as far as Harley- street, their progress being one continued ovation. At the corner of Harley street, however, the police, who had received information of the departure from Dublin, and acted under orders from the Castle, impeded the progress of cars any further in that direction, and directed them down Harley-street. By this means the bands, which were behind the line of constables, were deprived of the opportunity of playing the released prisoners to their destinations. Mr. Lombard and Mr. McSwiney drove to their homes, on the Coal quay and in Henry-street respectively, while Mr. Donovan and Mr. Downey, proceeded to the Italian Hotel. They had been only a few minutes in the hotel when the band arrived, accompanied by an immense multitude, who cheered vociferously. The bands played several national airs, including 'God Save Ireland,' which was sung in chorus by hundreds of voices. In order to avoid display, as far as in them lay, Mr. Donovan and Mr. Downey, quitted the hotel almost unobserved and betook themselves to quieter quarters. The bands then proceeded to the residences of Mr. Lombard and Mr. Downey, stopping opposite the house of each and playing favourite airs. Mr. Lombard addressed a few words to the bands and the attendant crowds counselling them to observe the peace, and at all hazards to avoid a collision with the police, as any disturbance would only fasten the chains on the men in prison. The horrors of their incarceration, he said, should not be prolonged by any acts of their fellow-countrymen, who, when they had their heads in the lion's mouth, should act with caution and good sense. These remarks were loudly cheered. The bands soon after retired to their rooms, and the city assumed its wonted air of quietude. The ex-prisoners will be entertained at a public dinner on Thursday night. At every station on the line the arrival of the train was awaited by large crowds of persons who welcomed the exiles with the heartiest manifestations of sympathy. At the Mallow Junction, where Mr. J. S. Casey (the Galtee Boy) alighted from the train, but especially at Kilmallock, where Messrs. T. Daly, Riordan [Reardon], and M. Noonan parted company with their companions, their reception amounted to a frenzied ovation, but, as far as we could ascertain, the demonstrations in their honour were nowhere attended with disorder."

218

Dianne Jones on 13th July 2021

1868, 10 January: On arrival in WA, he was listed as 22 years old, and a butcher; married, with no children (see Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/40 - 43)). This record also contains his physical description. --00-- Simon Downey's record from Fremantle Jail: "Convict #9718, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1845 Place of Birth: Cork Marital Status: Married Occupation: Butcher Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Cork Crime: Treason Sentence Period: 7 years Comments: One of 62 Fenians transported on the Hougoumont, the last convict ship sent to Australia. Its arrival at Fremantle on 9 Jan 1868 signalled the end of transportation to this country. Resided Finnistogue, Co Kilkenny. To New South Wales, 21 Sep 1869" (see https://fremantleprison.com.au/). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 13th July 2021

1867, 2 May: In the Supreme Court at Cork, before Chief Justices Keogh and George, Morgan McSweney [sic], 26, Eugene Lombard, 30, Simon Downey, 24, and John Coughlan, 20, were convicted of treason, i.e. “Fenianism and attacking and burning the Police Barracks at Ballymacoda and firing on HMS Troops”. All except Coughlan (5 years) were sentenced to 7 years’ transportation. The four had been admitted to Cork Prison on 6 March, 1867. Simon Downey was a butcher, Roman Catholic and could read and write (see Ireland, Prison Registers, 1790-1924; Cork; Cork 1861-1873). 1867, 10 June: Simon Downey, McSweney and Lombard were sent from Cork to Mountjoy Prison, in Dublin, where they were kept for almost 4 weeks. 1867, 6 July: The three were admitted to Millbank Prison, at Westminster in London, which served as a holding facility for convicted prisoners before they were transported to Australia. At Millbank, Simon Downey was listed as 26, married, able to read and write imperfectly, a Roman Catholic and a butcher. His brother, Timothy Downey of 19 Shandon Street, Cork, visited him in jail. By this time, he had spent 2.4 months behind bars. 1867, 30 September: Simon Downey and 13 other “Government prisoners” (Fenians) in Millbank were removed for transportation aboard the Hougoumont (see UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison Register of Prisoners, 1867-1868). --00--