Patrick Mcdonnell

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Maureen Withey on 16th March 2025

Commission Court. June James Doyle, Patrick M'Donnell, Michael Hacket, Anne D'Arcy, Mary Whelan, Mary and Eliza Ryan, and Anne O’Kelly, were put to the bar, charged with burglary and robbery. From the evidence of several witnesses, it appeared that the Rev. Thomas Acton's house in Balbriggan was broken into on the night of the 2Sth of May, and robbed of a silver sugar howl, pound of tea, a quantity of sheets  and table linen, and wearing apparel. On the following day, Peace Constable Gorman apprehended the two Ryans in their room, in Bitain-lane, one of whom, it was proved, had pledged the stolen sugar bowl. There were other articles of the stolen property found in their possession. On the same night, the same officer arrested the other six prisoners in Cinnherlandlane. They were in bed when Gorman arrived at their haunt. They broke into their apartment, made them all prisoners, and found the remainder of Mr. Acton’s property under one of the beds in which the prisoners had been lying. From the ingenious cross-examination of Mr. Graydon, the witnesses, up to this period, appealed to fail in establishing the charge contained in the indictment against any of the prisoners.— But Eliza Carroll was then called she deposed, that being in care of the house, (which was one of ill fame,) she saw the three male prisoners on the of May, for the first time; they came to the house about five o’clock in the morning ; after remaining a short time, Hacket took O’Kelly out with him and soon after returned with her, and a bundle which contained the property  in question ; the other two male prisoners, on seeing the bundle, declared that was larger when they they had left it in “the knowing place”. A quarrel upon this point ensued, and they and Hacket were near coming to blows. The three girls,.D’Arcy, Whelan, and O’Kelly, slept in the room on the previous night, (the night of the  robbery.) Baron Pennefather. —Were these women in the house, to your knowledge, the entire night previous to that upon which they were arrested ? Carroll. —Why, your Lordship knows, they always out in the evening ; but  they were in, from eleven o’clock until the next morning. Baron Pennefather charged the Jury, who, in few minutes, returned verdict of guilty against the three men, and of acquittal for the women. Baron PENNEFATHER warned the women of the narrow escape which they had just had, and of the danger which they would have to encounter unless they abandoned the profligate life which they had been leading. He then addressed the convicts, and after explaining to them the convincing evidence upon which they had been found guilty, and the aggravated nature of the crime, he said the duty of pronouncing the sentence which the law required, devolved upon him; but though sentence of death was then recorded against them, he was warranted to hold out the hope of mercy, that this sentence would be commuted to transportation for life.  Dublin Evening Packet, 26 June 1832.

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Maureen Withey on 16th March 2025

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Patrick McDonnell, alias McDonald, age on arrival, 19, per Roslin Castle (30, 1833, Tried 1832 at Dublin, Life for Robbery burglary. DOB, 1814, native place, Dublin Co. Single, Catholic. Gardeners boy.

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Maree Woods on 14th March 2025

Patrick was assigned to Mrs Elizabeth Speed of Connell Street in 1833. Was in Bong Bong when tried for Highway Robbery that landed him in Sydney Gaol (George Street, the Rocks) on 24 Mar 1836. Admitted to Sydney Gaol (George Street, the Rocks) for Highway Robbery - was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to 3 years on iron gang on public works. He possibly was on the iron gang that built Darlinghurst Prison. 1842: Sent to Pinchgut Island (Fort Denison) TOL: 4 Jan 1844 Married 1847 Emu Flat NSW Patrick, along with 41 other convicts were recorded as being absent from their district and illegally at large. They are all recorded as being absent from 31 May. (source: NSW Gov Gazette 27 June 1851. p10) All convicts had there TOL cancelled. It is likely he absconded to the gold diggings. Son born 1848 - Charles WilliamMcDonnell.