The Queen of the Fairies, 1844

From the Cork Examiner, 22 April 1844:

“We copy from the Kilkenny Journal the following extraordinary case tried on Friday last, at the Kilkenny Quarter Sessions:-

Mary Neill was placed at the bar, charged with having obtained a gown and shawl from Catherine Muldowney, under false pretences, with intent to steal.

Catherine Muldowney examined by Mr Purcell, deposed that she now lives at the butts, but in the month of December last, resided in Sir Wheeler Cuffe’s lodge.  One day in that read more

Humorists of the Irish Bar, and the Serjeant who thought he was a Rabbit, 1800-1931

The young John Philpot Curran, via Wikimedia Commons.

From the Derry Journal, 2 January 1931 (previously published in the Cork Examiner):

HUMOUR AT THE IRISH BAR

By DF HANNIGAN BL

Since the jolly old days when a briefless but witty barrister, at a dinner in Dublin, thus addressed a pompous but utterly unhumorous Judge – What a curious reversal of the laws of Nature, my Lord; it is that while you have risen to the top of your profession by your gravity, I have fallen to the bottom of it by my levity.’ there has been humour at the Irish Bar.  read more

The Arrest of Daniel O’Connell, 1843

An image of O’Connell at the time of his arrest, from the Illustrated Penny Journal, November 1880.

From the Yorkshire Gazette, 21 October 1843:

“ARREST OF DANIEL O’CONNELL AND HIS CONFEDERATES

Mr O’Connell, and his son, Mr John O’Connell, have been placed in the hands of justice, under the following warrant:

‘Whereas Daniel O’Connell, of Merrion Square, in the city of Dublin, Esquire, hath been charged upon oath before me, the Honourable Charles Burton, one of her Majesty’s justices of the Court of Queen’s Bench, in Ireland, for that he did unlawfully and seditiously conspire read more

Damages of £1000 awarded against Former Lord Mayor of Dublin for Seducing his Own Daughter, 1846

The Mansion House, Dublin, and its ‘long parlour’, where former Lord Mayor and businessman John Ladavaze Arabin was alleged by his natural daughter Mary Anne to have committed an act of incest with her in 1842. A Wicklow civil jury believed Mary Anne, awarding damages of £1000 to her mother in respect of her seduction, but no follow-up prosecution was ever brought against Arabin.  Images via National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

From the Cork Examiner, 2 March 1846

“MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE – VERDICT OF £1000 DAMAGES AGAINST THE LATE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN FOR THE SEDUCTION OF HIS OWN DAUGHTER

COUNTY WICKLOW ASSIZES – FRIDAY

The Hon Mr Justice Ball took his seat in the Record Court yesterday, at ten o’clock, and proceeded to try the following case:

Mary Carroll v Lohn Ladavaze Arabin, ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin.

This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover compensation for the seduction of her daughter, Mary read more

Protest in Court by Barrister Imprisoned for Drilling during Irish War of Independence, 1918

The former Templemore courthouse where junior barrister and future Minister for Local Government of the Irish Free State JA Burke BL was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for drilling in 1918.

From the Leinster Reporter, 25 May 1918:

“DRILLING AT ROSCREA

Before a special court, Mr. J O’Sullivan RM, presiding, with Major Dease RM, on Wednesday at Templemore courthouse, Mr. JA Burke BL, was charged with drilling on the 24th of March and 7th April, at Roscrea, and with having taken part in drilling.  He was also charged that on the 5th of May, at Corville, he took part in drilling.

The defendant, who had been removed from Limerick prison, where he had been on remand read more