James Renahan

341

Maureen Withey on 18th January 2022

Kinnear Indent: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P56 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P57 6806, James Renahaw, tried at Limerick, 1 March 1842, Life, age 22, height 5ft 7, catholic, can read and write, single. Offence: Assaulting Patrick Toomey’s house. Surgeon’s Report: Good. Trade, F. Labourer, Ploughman. Native place, Co. Limerick. Remarks: F. James, N.P. B, Math, Michael, John. S, Mary, Catherine Ally. N.P. Thomas my brother on Bo. (board) ---------------------------------------------------- Conduct Report: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-28$init=CON33-1-28p148 James received his Ticket of Leave 5.11.50, and had it revoked and restored several times. 16.9.56. Imp. Bay. (Impression Bay) 2.5.57. P.A. Lunatic. Discharged, 2.7.60. Conditional Pardon approved, 25 June 1867. Lunatic Hospital, 10.7.69. Died New Norfolk Hospital for the Insane, 19 July 1891. --------------------------------------------------- James Renahan, Thomas Renahan, David Kelly, and Thomas Kielly, were indicted for feloniously attacking the dwelling of Patrick Toomey, of Dohera, and assaulting him so violently, as to endanger his life. Patrick Toomey sworn—l know two of the prisoners at the bar, Thomas Kielly and Jas. Renehan; I lived at Dohera, as land steward to Dr. O'Flaherty; a man named Renehan, was steward to Dr. O'Flaherty before me; be is father of the prisoner, Thomas Renehan; on the morning of the 19th of July last, I was in bed in my house, and some one came to the window, and asked if I was asleep; I replied not, and the person called out get up, the cows are in the wheat. I asked if that was Kennedy, one of the labourers, and he replied it was; I then got up and opened the door; it was about three o'clock; when I opened the door I saw six men outside; four of them were at the door; one of them had a gun and another a blunderbuss; on opening the door I was struck with a gun; Renehan had the gun, and Kiely the blunderbuss; I was struck two or three times with the blunderbuss; when they struck me they asked What brought me there? I called out, and my wife ran to my assistance; she put her hands over my head to prevent them of striking but they gave her a blow of a spade on the hands, and she was compelled to let me go; when my wife did so, I fell, and they beat and kicked me; I contrived to creep under a table, and they went out; they came back again and dragged me by the legs from under the table; brought me between them to the door and renewed their violence; they inflicted several wounds on me with a spade, a blunderbuss, and a pitchfork, until they thought I was dead; when they were going away they broke all the windows with stones when they asked me what brought me there, said I did not come unsent for; I was confined for 15 days under the care of Dr. O'Flaherty; Renehan was the first person who entered the house; I scraped his face in the struggle. and he had the mark of it when arrested; I am the father of 10 children. Maria Toomey sworn—Is wife of Patrick Toomey, and recollects the morning of the 19th of July last when the house was attacked; I don't know what occurred before I went to my husband's assistance, but I heard the man at the window cry out the cows were in the wheat; when I heard my husband cry out murder. I got up and saw them beating him; there were four men there, and they had guns, a spade, and a pitchfork; I put my hands on his head and endeavoured to prevent the blows ; they thought to loosen my hold by scraping me but could not do so until one of them struck me on the fingers with a spade, and I got a blow of a gun in the back, which tumbled me out of the way ; when I let go of my husband he fell, anal they kicked him ; they then went out, but returned again; when I saw them coming hack, I fastened the door, and remained against it; they struck the door and swore if I did not open it immediately they would blow out my brains [Witness there repeated the treatment her husband received when they came in the second time] When they were dragging him from under the table they told me that if I did not leave the house the following morning I would get the same fate my husband was then going to get ; one of them struck me with a stone ; I am certain the two Renebans were of the party. William Toomey sworn—Slept in the dairy adjoin. ing his father's dwelling the morning it was attacked ; when he heard the noise he got up and saw armed men about his father's house; the prisoner Kelly was amongst them. Constable Leary arrested Kelly on the morning of the attack, in consequence of a conversation he had with Dr. O'Flaherty ; arrested Thomas Renehan the next day in his own house; Kiely was arrested on the 27th February in his father's house ; he was concealed under his mother in a bed ; James Renehan was arrested in his father's house; when witness rapped at the door he went up in the chimney naked ; the country was much disturbed by white-boy offences at the time. Doctor O'Flaherty examined.—Toomey was my steward in the month of July last; James Renehan's father was my steward previously; I visited Toomey's house after the attack, and found him very bad; I considered his life in danger from the effects of the beating he received; he had three severe cuts on the head, and was much bruised; I attended him for 8 or 9 days; Toomey's son told me the day of the occurrence that Kelly was with the party that attacked his father's house. Four or five witnesses were produced by the Prisoners, who swore an alibi in their favour. His Lordship briefly summed up the evidence and the Jury having retired for half an hour, returned with a verdict of Guilty against James Renehan, Thomas Renehan, and David Kelly. Thomas Kiely not Guilty. Limerick Chronicle, 5 March 1842.