Peter Foddigan

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Maureen Withey on 14th February 2025

Peter Fodigan was put to the bar charged with the murder of his brother; Pleaded not guilty. This trial occupied the court a considerable  time. It appeared evidence that the family the Fedigan’s, particularly the three brothers, Patrick, (the deceased) Peter and Thomas, who reside in the town of Louth, have been at variance for some time back respecting  certain property ; several skirmishes have taken place between them, in one of which, Pat, got his arm dislocated by Peter . The latest quarrel, however, which was attended with such fatal consequences, originated about the wall of a saw of a saw pit, and terminated in a dreadful contest for possession of the house which Pat. had forcibly  kept and resided in from the period of his marriage. During the quarrel, the deceased had gone for the Police to make peace , and his absence Peter and Tom had broke open the door of the house, and were in the act of fighting with the deceased's  wife and her relations when he returned; upon the deceased entering the house, he took Peter by the neck to put him out of the place. Peter struggled as long he was able, but at length, being overpowered by the superior vigor of the deceased, and unwilling to dispossessed, caught hold of the side-post of the door, and clung it until he was forced to withdraw from the violence he received from the deceased and his party; in less than two minutes, Peter returned into the house with a spade, struck Patrick (the deceased) mortal blow the head, and endeavoured to twist the murderous weapon in the horrible gash which it made! as soon had extricated the bloody instrument from the skull of his brother, the wife of deceased took him from the ground in her arms, war quickly forced to let him fall again in his gore, in consequence of the severe beating she received on the shoulders from two men named M‘Daniel and Kiernan. Volleys of stones were then poured into the house through the door and windows; and Mary Fedigan, in state of despair, lest  her husband, who was then lying bleeding On the floor, should be instantly dispatched,  made a last daring effort to save his life at the hazard of her own,  and bravely succeeded in removing him to another chamber;  after that she immediately sent for Surgeon Caraher, and ran herself for the police, who made several prisoners, and brought the unfortunate man to Dundalk Hospital, where  he lay in excruciating agonies from Thursday until the Saturday night following, when he expired. Several witnesses were  examined on the defence, and it appeared that the prisoner was of peaceable disposition, and that he had received considerable abuse from the deceased.— The Judge in a lengthened address charged the Jury, who retired for nearly an hour and found the prisoner guilty of Manslaughter.—To transported for life. Drogheda Journal, 27 July 1830

343

Maureen Withey on 14th February 2025

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Peter Foddigan, age on arrival, 30, per Waterloo (2) 1831. Tried 1830, at Louth Co, Life, for Manslaughter. DOB 1801, Native place, Louth. Married, 1 child. Catholic. Labourer reaper.