From the Freeman’s Journal, 26 October 1885

“DEATH OF A SCHOOLBOY WHILE BEING CANED

PROCEEDINGS IN THE POLICE COURT

On Saturday morning in Northern Division of Police Court before Mr Charles J O’Donel, John McNamee, schoolmaster of the Star of the Sea National School, Sandymount, was placed in the dock charged in custody of Inspector Rooney with feloniously causing the death of Joseph Doyle, a pupil in the above school.

The defendant was remanded on his own bail in 50 pounds and two sureties in 25 pounds each being accepted for his appearance.

THE INQUEST

In the afternoon the County Coroner, Dr Davies, held an inquest in the schoolroom at the back of the Star of the Sea Chapel… Mr Morell, Chief of Inspection to the National Board of Education in Ireland, attended.

Inspector Rooney attended to watch the case on behalf of the police authorities.

The Rev Father O’Hanlon, manager of the school; the Rev Father Purcell, PP, and the Rev Father Maxwell, CC, were also in attendance.

The Master, who was charged in the Police Court this morning with causing the death of the boy, and was remanded on bail, was also present during the inquiry.

A respectable jury, having been sworn, viewed the body.

The first witness examined was the father of the boy, Patrick Doyle, stationmaster at Sandymount railway station. He said – The Deceased was my son. I saw him last alive about a quarter to one o’clock on yesterday. At about half past ten o’clock on yesterday morning I was informed that he was staying away from school. I then went to the school, and found that the information which I had received was true. When I found the boy I brought him to the school and I told the master to punish him. I said ‘You know how to deal with my boy; and I know also what to do with him.’ I never knew the deceased to be suffering from any weakness or fits of any kind. He was a healthy boy and was only once prescribed for by a doctor. If the deceased came home that evening and said the master had not punished him I would have been displeased.

William Rathbourne, of Sandymount, a school boy, and one of the pupils attending the school, stated – I knew the deceased very well. I saw him yesterday after he arrived, and he looked as strong as ever. I saw him punished by the master. He was laid across the seat (a sort of office stool), and with one of the canes produced (a common one) he was whipped. He did not get many blows, and they were inflicted across the back immediately below the spine. His top-coat was not on him at the time, and he roared, but no tears came from him. During the whole time he was very pale. After the punishment had been inflicted he walked across the floor, and shortly afterwards dropped down on his face. I saw froth across his lips when he was brought out to the yard for air. I never remember him to have been a delicate boy. He was not stripped, and the guernsey he wore came down as far as his hips.

Michael Sutton, another schoolboy, deposed – I saw the deceased boy whipped with a cane by the schoolmaster, Mr McNamee. The deceased got about seven blows on the back below the spine. IN a few minutes afterwards he fell down on his face when walking across the room.

Dr John Synnott, of Irishtown, deposed – The deceased was never a patient of mine to my knowledge. I have examined the body and find that there is a weal or welt on the back of each hand. There is no other mark of violence on his body. I could not discover any marks of violence on the back of the body. Upon making a post mortem examination of the body I found that the deceased had been suffering from ecsymosis. I also found that there was extensive disease of the heart valve as well as fatty degeneration of the heart. He had a very enlarged liver and the right lobe extended over to the left side. I think with such a form of disease an ordinary fright would be sufficient to cause death.

The Coroner then summed up the evidence and addressed the jury. He commented on the fact that the father had directed the master to punish the boy, and said that it was necessary that pupils should be chastised occasionally in order to preserve school discipline. The medical evidence showed that no excessive violence was used towards the boy, he having only received seven strokes of the cane. He then asked the jury whether they would wish to retire.

A Juror (Mr Walker) said that he thought that there was no necessity. It was evident that the teacher had only acted as desired by the father, and had used no unnecessary violence.

The Coroner asked were all the jurors of this opinion.

The Foreman (Mr Patrick Mordant) – I would like the jury to have a few minutes alone as I have a few words to say on the matter.

The Coroner asked the foreman if there was any point he desired to have elucidated.

The Foreman – I will not sign that paper until I have said what I wish to the jury on this matter.

One of the persons near Mr Mordant made some observation to him which was inaudible to the rest of those present.

The Foreman (warmly) – Surely, sir, I can have my own opinion and exercise my own judgment without dictation from you.

The Coroner then said he would have the room cleared to allow the jury to discuss the matter amongst themselves.

The Foreman said that he did not think a boy should be placed across a stool in the manner which had been described. When he was going to school the usual punishment was to keep a boy in or have him slapped on the hand.

Another Juror (Mr Walker) characterised this as ‘d___d nonsense,’ and asked how boys could be managed if they were not punished.

The Coroner said that slaps on the hands were really more severe than the punishment which the boy had undergone. In that portion of the body where the boy had been beaten, nature had formed a soft cushion which was not so liable to injury as the hands. This punishment had been given to children by parents and masters from time immemorial.

The room was then cleared, and after an interval the jury announced through their foreman that they had agreed to the following verdict –

‘We find that the deceased boy, Joseph Doyle, aged nine years, came by his death in Sandymount Schoolhouse, county Dublin, on the 23^rd October, 1885, from extensive disease of the heart and one of its valves, and fatty degeneration of the heart.’

Riders to the following effect were also added to the verdict by the jury –

‘We consider that the punishment inflicted on him by the teacher McNamee was not excessive. We also consider that the boys should not be placed across the stool or seat when punishment is being inflicted.’”

It appears that the charges brought against McNamee were subsequently dropped. The case was widely reported in the English media, but outrage in Ireland seemed minimal with no permanent damage caused either to the reputation of the school or the widespread practice of corporal punishment, which continued in Ireland for another century.

The good old days!