Michael Fagan

341

Maureen Withey on 6th June 2026

Robbery and Attempt Murder.-— Michael Fegan was arraigned for grievously assaulting James Brien, and robbing him of silver watch and a gold chain and seals. It will be remembered that the present case was mentioned in our police reports some days ago, and that Fegan attempted to bite off the thumb of Campayne, the peace-officer, who brought him up before the magistrates. When the indictment was read by the clerk of the crown, the prisoner pleaded  not guilty—he was defended by Mr. M‘Donagh, and prosecuted by Mr. M‘Cane, on the part of the crown. He seemed to be about to be about thirty years of age, was very respectably (rather fashionably) attired. He wore a brown frock coat, which was a torn in the shoulder by his recent scuffle with the peace-officer, a plaid waistcoat, and fashionable cravat—he had a thin sallow countenance, dark penetrating eyes, much sunken in his head, dark hair and heavy eyebrows—the general contour of his countenance indicated a cruel and sanguinary disposition. His trial created some interest, as it was pretty well known to the officers of justice that he was the head or ringleader of a gang of robbers in Dublin, who have a connection with with a similar gang in Liverpool. The first witness called up was James O’Brien, an elderly man, of rather delicate appearance. deposed that, on Sunday, the 24th of January last, he went into M‘Bride’s public-house in Great Britain- street, to get some drink between one and two o'clock; the prisoner was in the house; witness went there again in the evening, and the prisoner came in and sat m the same room; witness was at looking the newspaper and waiting for what ordered, when the prisoner addressed him in a very familiar way and began to talk on various subjects; he then asked him what o'clock it was, and witness pulled out his watch to tell the hour, the watch had a gold guard- chain, and six gold seals; the prisoner took it in his hand, and began to admire it; he said he had a watch like it, which was in pledge, but he had not money to release it; he then called for some mulled porter, and asked him would not he take some of it, he said he never drank porter, that he did not like it ; prisoner said he was no Irishman, who would not drink with a friend when he met him; witness then took the tumbler to taste it, and the prisoner would not let take it from his head, until he he finished it; soon after taking it, he fell off quite insensible, and he was not long lying so, when he felt the prisoner endeavouring to take the guard chain of his watch over his bead—-he had sense enough to arouse himself for moment, and asked the fellow was he going to rob him; he laughed at it, and desisted for the moment; he had never seen the prisoner before that day; witness thought it was right to leave the house, and he called to know what was to pay, and each paid their own share of the reckoning. He then left the house between 7 and 8 o'clock, and went down towards Sackville-street and Capel-street ; when he had gone as far as the waste grounds at King’s Inns-street, he had occasion  to turn aside, and he heard the noise of a person following quite close to him; he was instantly knocked down, and an attempt made to the watch out of his fob; he held it fast; besides, it was secured by a strong guard-chain round his neck; when the man found he could not get it easily, he held down his head in the channel, and kicked him dreadfully in the face; he then put his foot on his neck ; the blood flowed into his mouth, and the water of the channel collected about him, so that he was being nearly smothered ; he could not recollect anything further until the watch-man came to his relief when he found that his watch and seals were gone; when the man first began to kick him, a voice cried out, make haste, there are people coming; swears positively that the prisoner is the man who robbed and assaulted him; the watch was torn with great violence out of his pocket; the guard-chain was broken, and part of it left behind. James M‘Bride, the publican in whose house they were drinking, was the next witness.—He swore the prisoner was the man who had been with O’Brien in his house, and that when he went away the prisoner followed him: he could not  tell any further about the matter. John Martin, the watchman, deposed that on the the night in question he found O'Brien lying across channel in King’s Inns-street, and he was covered with blood and greatly abused; the poor man was nearly dead ; he stated to him he had been nearly murdered and robbed of his watch by a man who had  been drinking with him that. day. These witnesses were cross-examined at great length by Mr. M‘Donagh, but nothing to shake their direct testimony was elicited. Campayne, the officer, was the next witness examined. He stated that he arrested the prisoner on another charge ; that he was remanded to Newgate for further examination ; that in a few days after he was brought up before the magistrates and transmitted to Henry-street. … … The learned Recorder summed up the evidence at considerable length. The jury retired, and in about twenty minutes re- turned  with a verdict of guilty. Through the course of the trial the prisoner directed his counsel and agent with great adroitness and presence of mind: but when he heard the verdict announced he became deadly pale for a moment, and said, “My lord, don’t take my life—I have a wife and three children.” His worship then proceeded to pass the sentence of the law upon the wretched culprit. He said his life had been forfeited to the laws of his country— he had been found guilty upon clear and distinct evidence of the greatest crime which it was possible for him to commit next to that of taking away the life of a fellow-being, and that he had not so taken that life was more a matter of chance than from any lack of atrocity on his part. Sentence of death should be recorded against him ; and he (the Recorder) must say that amongst the various  cases of a similar kind which came before him, his was one of the worst he ever had an opportunity of trying. He entertained serious doubts whether the ends of justice would be fully accomplished without allowing the If his extreme sentence of the law to take effect. life were forfeited, neither himself nor the nor the public could complain that the punishment was too rigorous for the crime. The man whom he thus marked out as his victim, and assaulted so brutally, regardless whether loss of life followed, was aged and infirm compared with himself ; and there could be no doubt, from all the facts of the case, if it were necessary to murder the poor old  man in order to possess himself of the property which he set his eye upon, he would have done so without he would have done so without hesitation. Judgment of death should be recorded against him, and, if that were not carried into effect, most assuredly the next punishment to it in severity would; and the best he could hope for would be transportation for the term of of his natural life. Dublin Morning Register, 5 Sept 1836.

341

Maureen Withey on 5th June 2026

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Michael Fagan, alias Fegan, Phagan, Phegan, age on arrival, 27, per Calcutta II, 1837. Tried at Dublin City, 1836, Life for Assault felony of watch. DOB, 1810, native place, Galway Co. Married, 2 female children. Catholic. Servant thorough.