Thomas Greenan

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 10th November 2024

County of Monaghan Assizes.  Robbery of Fire- Arms. Thomas Greenan and John Kerr, for feloniously taking a gun from Walter Rainey, and having said gun in their possession. Walter Rainey   examined by Sir T. —Is a yeoman—was on duty in Castleblayney on 24th Dec. last—lives about a mile and a half  out of Castleblayney—left Castleblayney between 6 and 7 o’clock, that night, and was returning home by the Dundalk road—met a crowd—put his bayonet on to be prepared, if attacked—the crowd was marching in military order—when the centre of the party came opposite to him, some men leaped out and seized hold of his gun; both his gun and bayonet were taken from him—saw the gun since in in Castleblayney Bridewell, and identifies the one now shown to him as that which was taken on the night of the 24th December—knew none of the party at the time. Rainey was not cross-examined at this period. William Thompson (a Policeman), examined by Mr. Moopy—Was on duty on 18th February last—was in Greenan’s house, executing a warrant  against Greenan and Kerr—got the gun identified by last witness under the bed where Kerr lay in Greenan’s house—Kerr was lying on the floor, and an old man was in the bed with him— made Kerr get up, and found the gun under the side of the bed where he had been lying. Mr. Scriven, on the part of the prisoners, cross examined this witness with much ingenuity, but did not succeed in invalidating  his testimony. John Waters (an Approver), examined by Mr. Moopy—Knows the prisoners Greenan and Kerr, and identifies them—was with them on the night when they took the gun from the yeoman—swears that the prisoners assisted in taking the gun from Rainey. Cross-examined by Mr. Scriven—Heard of no reward being offered for the detection of the prisoners—knows of none now—had some little hand in taking the gun himself—helped to beat the yeoman. Walter  Rainey was now re-called, and cross- examined by Mr. Scriven—Swears the musket he identified a few minutes before was the one taken from him in December last—knows it by a mark, a piece cut out of one of the nails of the lock—would not say whether the prisoners were the men who took it or not. Here the case for the prosecution closed. Carroll, examined by Mr. Scriven— Remembers Christmas Eve, last December— Kerr, the prisoner, went home, and stopped with him all night - he lives about a mile and a half from Castleblayney, : Cress-examined by Sir T. at Castleblayney on Christmas Eve—went there for ? and sugar for Christmas Day—left Castle-b with prisoner about 4 o’clock—knew it by the arn clock—swears he saw the hour by the town clock. [Here a watch was handed to the witness by Sir Thomas—Carrol answered, however, that he could not tell what o'clock it was by the watch, as scholard !”} (Laughter.) Owen Greenan was the next witness called— Ces, however, not answering, , an unsophisticated native stooped over the gallery, and shouted, with startling vehemence, “ Hoy! Paggy, hoy! call Oiney Greenan !” Mr. Scriven.—That, my Lord, is a specimen of the pure Celtic. (Laughter.) “ Oiney,” not being forthcoming, Michael Greenan, an old man, and father of the prisoner Thos. Greenan, was examined by Mr. Scriven—The prisoner Thomas  (he said) had lived with him, witness ; was with him the day before Christmas, and all that night; was with him from before sunset till sunrise on Christmas Day ; he went to “he was no bed with him (witness) at ten o'clock at and did not rise till  morning. Cross-examined by Mr. Moopy—Was not at home when the gun was taken from under Kerr’s bed; the reason he was from home on that night was, that the wife of his son Owen was brought to bed, and as they were scarce of bed-clothes in Owen's, he lent them his, and went  to sleep with a neighbour man. Mr. Bellingham.—Knew Kerr as a labouring man for three years—his character then  was pretty good—but did not believe it to be equally so now. Two other witnesses were produced, who gave the prisoners good characters. The Judge briefly summed up, and the Jury returned  a verdict of Guilty. His Lordship then said—Thomas Greenan and James Kerr, you have been found guilty of the crime laid to your charge : if these were ordinary times, I might consider it my duty to treat you with a certain degree of indulgence ; but in the present distracted situation of Ireland—in the present unhappy stateof partsof the Co. Monaghan —I would not be acting in the honest discharge of my responsible duties, did I not visit your crime with a necessary severity. That crime is one which has been the  original source of the multitudinous miseries of Ireland—the parent of all the  vice, the ruffianism, the frightful destitution, which envelope the land,—I mean the unnatural passion of the common people for destructive weapons. That crime it is which leads to nightly maraudings, innumerable robberies  and indiscriminate massacres, and which now compels me to sentence each of you to the mercy of a seven years’  transportation. Newry Telegraph, 12 March 183

Level 221

D Wong on 13th June 2013

2 Thomas Greenan's on this ship. Thomas Greenan/prisoner no. 34/0131 was transported for "Firearms". His was a Whiteboy, married with 1 male child, 21 years old. 1839: TOL Campbelltown. (Can't tell which one it was for). 9/5/1840: COF.