A fascinating account from the Cheshire Observer, 28 January 1882, of a claim for breach of promise and child support by a many-sistered governess ‘ruined’ by a member of the Stephen’s Street Club. Eye-contact in Grafton Street followed by champagne… Continue reading

From the London Evening Standard, 10 December 1870: “Dublin is becoming unenviably famous for divorce and criminal conversation cases of an extraordinary nature.  The recent suit of Taylor v Taylor is thrown into the shade by Wilson v Webb, now… Continue reading

From the Leeds Times, 31 August 1867, this account, originally published in All the Year Round, of the death of the Reverend William Jackson in the Court of King’s Bench in the old Four Courts in Christchurch, just as the… Continue reading

“A person, though he knows a person is drunk, cannot sometimes explain exactly [why].” How to prove drunkenness in a pre-breathalyser era? The below case from Dungarvan Petty Sessions, reported in the Waterford Evening News of 7 January 1914, which… Continue reading

From the Staffordshire Sentinel of 1 November 1878, this account of Edith Shaw, a former governess with a taste for the high life, charged at the Dublin Commission Court with stealing passengers’ luggage at railway stations: Edith managed a number… Continue reading

Litigation in respect of the buying and selling of horses was once a major part of the Irish legal system. Although Sport (Dublin) did not usually carry legal reports, it made an exception on 13 February 1915 in respect of… Continue reading

From the Porcupine, 18 April 1801, a harrowing story of abuse bordering on homicide by Mary Doyle, a fiend in human form whose treatment of infants procured by her from the Foundling Hospital, Dublin for money-making purposes was dreadful enough… Continue reading

From the Fermanagh Herald of 28 January 1928, this account of the appearance before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in Green Street of the irredeemable Mary Knott, a ten-time convicted middle-aged fraudster of refined taste and extraordinary ingenuity. Armed with… Continue reading

“Her husband was addicted to drinking, and he expressed the belief that if he had a little child in the house it would help to wean him from his habit… witness began to dress up as to give herself the… Continue reading

In the below story from the Belfast Telegraph, 7 August 1877, two neighbours in Ballinasloe, County Galway engage in a heated legal battle over a cat: Other examples of recourse to the law to recover stolen pets can occasionally be… Continue reading

From the Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette, 27 September 1895, this account of a legal tussle at the Killorglin Petty Sessions between two women smitten with the same man, with a dialogue worthy of – and perhaps an inspiration… Continue reading

A case of elder abuse in the Dublin Police Court reported in the Dundee Courier of 27 January 1885. Police court reports are a great insight into Ireland of the time, and the Dublin Police Court, a Dickensian building behind… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

From the Tipperary Free Press, 29 January 1869: “ROMANCE OF A DUBLIN POLICE COURT Persons whose pursuits might have led them, for the past few weeks, to the neighbourhood of the North-wall have had their attention drawn to two men… Continue reading

From Saunders’s News-Letter, 7 February 1839 (abridged) “COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH – YESTERDAY ABDUCTION – EXTRAORDINARY CASE The Queen, at the prosecution of Mabel Tucker, v Peter Yore, Thomas Flood, Michael Bradley, Mary Meehan and Anne Cooney This case, which… Continue reading

From the Southern Star, 6 February 1926, this interesting account of the trial of Herbert McBride Campbell and Wilfred Watkins for armed robbery of £70 from the Greystones sub-branch of the Northern Bank, the robbers having arrived and left on… Continue reading

The 1861 trial of Dublin cabman John Curran for indecent assault on a young passenger, Louisa Jolly, transfixed mid-Victorian Ireland. The trial involved interesting issues relating to identification evidence, and reports and commentary associated with it give a fascinating insight… Continue reading

As the Irish Civil War raged, juvenile members of the population were not above taking advantage of its attendant confusion for their own benefit. From the Freeman’s Journal, 6 March 1923, this story reminiscent of the eponymous hero of Richmal Crompton’s… Continue reading

From the Penny Despatch and Irish Weekly Newspaper, 24 April 1867, this account of the tragic death of a couple as worthy of remembrance for the story of their love and end as any lawyer who ever walked the halls… Continue reading

From the Strabane Weekly News, 31 January 1914: “COUNTY DONEGAL MYSTERY Disappearance of £300 DOMESTIC SERVANT CHARGED WITH THEFT Remarkable Evidence of Superstition At Lifford Crown Sessions – before His Honour Judge Cooke – a domestic servant named Winifred McCarron… Continue reading

From the Weekly Irish Times, 19 December 1903, this story of a canine Boer War hero of the highest level regrettably forced to seek ‘wuff justice’ in the Dublin Police Court: “A FAMOUS DOG IN THE POLICE COURT On Tuesday,… Continue reading

From the Northern Whig, 21 March, 1906: “ACTION AGAINST A BANGOR DOCTOR TUGHAN V DARNELL THE DEFENDANT’S CASE In the Crown Court of the County Courthouse, Crumlin Road, yesterday, before the Lord Chief Baron and a County Antrim special jury,… Continue reading

From the Wicklow People, 27 August 1904, this Dublin Police Court story of a trio of schoolboy miscreants whose sins ended them up in some very cold water indeed: “A romantic story was told about three lads who appeared in… Continue reading

From the Dundee Evening Telegraph, 6 June 1907: “LADY’S SMOKING PROPENSITIES Mary Telford, a married woman, living with her husband at Armagh, who caused some amusement in Court by admitting that for some years she smoked a pipe because of… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 9 November 1842: “WONDERFUL EFFECT OF A BLOW FROM A DOG’S TAIL Several vintners were summoned before the magistrates to answer the complaints of police-constables, who charged them with having violated the Spirit Act. Bartholomew Romainville,… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

A fascinating Belfast defamation action arising out of a most unusual misunderstanding, as reported in the Cork Constitution, Friday 29 July 1864: “At the Belfast Quarter Sessions, before Mr. Otway QC, the case of Louisa Fraser v Patrick McCabe came… Continue reading

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, 17 July 1901: “DIVERTING BREACH OF PROMISE CASE In the Four Courts, Dublin, yesterday, a breach of promise action brought by Beatrice Kate Roberts against Dr Charles Burnett Scott came before Master Bruce and a… Continue reading

From the Belfast Weekly News, 29 August 1907: “SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN AMERICAN Extraordinary Story Told in Dublin Police Court An extraordinary story was unfolded on 22nd inst. in the Police Court before Mr Swifte, upon a charge of obtaining money… Continue reading

From the Daily Express, 23 January 1890: “A HAUNTED HOUSE IN DROGHEDA (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT) Drogheda, Wednesday At the Quarter Sessions to-day, before his Honor Judge Kisbey, a very amusing case was heard.  It was a process brought at the… Continue reading

From the Belfast Morning News, 24 September 1863: “A TALISMANIC RELIC’ An extraordinary case was heard at last Loughgall Petty Sessions, county Armagh.  A woman named Sarah Hagan charged her husband, James Hagan, with having assaulted her and threatened her… Continue reading

From the Galway Express, 7 December 1912: “At a special court held at Lucan on Monday, Mr Vernon Russell, described as a member of the Irish Bar, living in Leeson Street, Dublin, was charged with attempting suicide by jumping into… Continue reading

From the Ballina Herald, 20 January 1951: “TAKING A CRACK AT THE CAT RIFLE BULLET LODGES IN MAN’S SHOULDER EXTRAORDINARY CASE AT BALLINA (Exclusive Report) Next time you see a stray cat on the garden wall, don’t do as Muredach… Continue reading

From the Evening Echo, 9 March 1956: “DOG WITH AVERSION TO GARDAI OWNER BEFORE CORK DISTRICT COURT A dog with an aversion to members of the Gardai, but with the wisdom to leave the jurisdiction of the Court before his… Continue reading

From the Dublin Evening Mail, 6 September 1841: “BELFAST PETTY SESSIONS – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 RAISING THE WIND BY RAISING GHOSTS Our readers, we are sure, will not have forgotten an extraordinary case, tried at our Quarter Sessions Court, in… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 27 February 1858: “Mr Gordon Cumming, the celebrated lion hunter, was brought before the magistrate at College-street police office on Tuesday last, charged by a young and interesting looking female, named Margaret Jevans, and a number… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 14 February 1891: “Yesterday at half-past three, in the Courthouse, Green-Street, Henry C Harvey, described as a druggist, residing in Great Brunswick Street, was placed at the bar before Mr. Justice O’Brien, and indicted for having… Continue reading

On 22 August 1922, Michael Collins, Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State, was shot dead in an ambush at Béal na Bláth, County Cork. The person who fired the shot that killed him has never been… Continue reading

From the Chiswick Times, 9 July 1909: “END OF THE IRISH SUIT THE ACTION AGAINST A CHISWICK GENTLEMAN JUDGE’S STRONG REMARKS The remarkable law suit against a Chiswick gentleman, which had been before the Courts in Dublin for many days,… Continue reading

From various Irish and English newspaper reports of 26-30 June 1909, including but not confined to the Daily Mirror, the Dublin Daily Express and the Northern Whig, Part 3 of the saga of Jephson v Brenon, edited and abridged (links… Continue reading

Described as ‘the strangest, saddest case’ ever to have been heard in the Four Courts, Dublin, the 1909 proceedings of Jephson v Brenon sought to set aside a deed executed many decades earlier by eccentric Irish expat John Boyce in… Continue reading

From the Daily Mirror, 18 June 1909: “RESCUED FROM NAPLES GARRET FORTY YEARS EXILE The hearing of the strange case of Jephson v Brenon, described by counsel as one of the saddest tragedies ever told in a court of justice,… Continue reading

From the Cork Examiner, 21 June 1844: “DUBLIN POLICE – HENRY STREET MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE – A TAILOR DANCING THE POLKA IN SACKVILLE-STREET A young man named Gaffney, whose attire was well calculated to display the symmetry of his anatomical… Continue reading

From the Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, 25 May 1861: “THE DEAD ALIVE – EXTRAORDINARY CASE Some years ago, in Dublin, a husband and wife, it appears, took it into their heads to possess themselves of £500 which had been… Continue reading

From the Enniscorthy Guardian, 7 December 1901, this Edwardian version of ‘Catch Me if You Can’ with a young Derryman playing the role of Frank Abagnale: “EXTRAORDINARY FALSE PRETENCES DERRYMAN’S OPERATIONS A REMARKABLE CAREER PLEA OF GUILTY AND IMPRISONMENT A… Continue reading

From the Nottingham Journal, 17 December 1906: “IRISH POET’S EXTRAORDINARY LAST INJUNCTIONS The extraordinary will of a Dublin poet, which was made as far back as 1882, was before Mr Justice Barton on Friday, when an action was brought to… Continue reading

One evening in August 1900, a Dublin woman leaves her home near the Grand Canal to travel to the Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor nearby. She brings with her four things: a bill-hook, two knives and a… Continue reading

In 1824, a lovelorn young man employs a rising young barrister to make a very strange application in Dublin’s Four Courts… A 3-4 minute video recounting a true story. Check out a newspaper report of it here: https://ruthcannon.com/2020/03/25/whe… Continue reading

From the Tuam Herald, 9 December 1837, and the Dublin Morning Register, 8 December 1837: “DUBLIN POLICE HENRY STREET.- EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF A GHOST An elderly little man, apparently in his perfect senses, came before the bench and stated that… Continue reading

Portrait silhouettes by Monsieur Edgar Adolphe, via Alamy. From the Dublin Daily Express, 6 October 1862: “A STRANGE CASE.- Madame Margaret Phibbs, otherwise Adolphe, appeared to answer the complaint of Monsieur Edgar Adolphe, a photographic artist, 75 Grafton-street, to show… Continue reading

From the Weekly Irish Times, 6 March 1886: “At the Waterford Police Court on Monday, before J Slattery, Esq., a woman named Mary Murphy was charged by Constable Williams with having by false pretence obtained from a number of persons… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 29 May 1847: “MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF ROBBING HOUSES IN DUBLIN The following very curious case came to light yesterday and perhaps in the annals of clever rogues, the hero of the present story has been… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 15 September 1856: “The Wizard Anderson’s Banners A motley group of men and women were brought before the magistrate in custody charged with carrying banners calculated to attract a crowd in the streets, and thereby obstruct… Continue reading

From the Dublin Evening Telegraph, 31 March 1920: “A WAR-TIME COURTSHIP” Today in the King’s Bench Division, before Mr Justice Dodd, in the action of Sarah Reynolds, of 41 Londonbridge Road, Sandymount, Dublin, v Wm B Huskisson, Mr CS Campbell… Continue reading

From the Kilrush Herald and Kilkee Gazette, 11 January 1918: “Round The Town By the Man in the Street There was a fine snowstorm on Monday and Tuesday which covered the ground several inches.  In town it was made the… Continue reading

I previously posted a short video about the Milltown Outrage, which occurred in Dublin in September 1861. It involved an attack on a 19-year-old governess by the cab driver engaged to bring her home from Sackville (now O’Connell) Street to… Continue reading

A three minute video, the first of a two-parter about a long forgotten but once widely publicised crime of 1861 involving a Dublin cab driver, a 19-year old governess and an allegation of assault with intent to violate in the… Continue reading

From the Irish Examiner, 26 November 1937: “JUDGE AND A RING AMUSING CASE AT WEXFORD CIRCUIT COURT QUESTIONS TO WITNESS At Wexford Circuit Court, before Judge Comyn KC, William McC, Wexford, appealed against the decision of the District Court Justice… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 2 April 1875: “A Bear in the Dock Two Frenchmen were charged with causing an obstruction to the public thoroughfare at Pill-Lane, that morning, by exhibiting a dancing bear. The prisoners were placed in the dock,… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 26 May 1830: “DUBLIN POLICE ARISTOCRATICAL INSOLENCE ‘A chiel’s amang ye takin notes And faith he’ll prent it.’ Robert Burns HENRY-STREET POLICE OFFICE, MONDAY. Lord Langford attended before Mr Cole, the sitting magistrate at this office,… Continue reading

From the Carlow Post, 1857: “An extraordinary case just occurred in Kingstown [now Dun Laoghaire] Police Court. It appears that a gentleman who recently held a commission in the 95th Foot was about to be married to a lady in… Continue reading

From the Evening Herald (Dublin), 13 May 1925 “STRANGE WESTERN WOOING FARMER WHO COURTED BY PROXY MULCTED FOR BREACH COMPACT WITH PARENTS LESSONS ON MELODEON AND A PAIR OF GLOVES MARRIED ANOTHER DEFENDANT UNASHAMED OF HIS CONDUCT A farmer of… Continue reading

From the Freeman’s Journal, 2 February 1924: “At a Special Court in Tullamore, before Mr Flanagan PC, Esther Smith, no fixed address, was remanded in custody on a charge of obtaining £3 and goods by false pretences and threats from… Continue reading

From the Derry Journal, 12 April 1929: “TEST IN COURT A LADY’S WATERPROOF INTERESTING DERRY CASE GARMENT RETURNED AFTER EIGHT MONTHS A barrister, two solicitors, the Court Registrar and the Court Caretaker spent fifteen minutes in Derry Courthouse yesterday testing… Continue reading

From the Dublin Evening Post, 26 August 1826: “A young lady, moving in a respectable situation in life, was on Thursday committed to Newgate, Dublin, on a charge of shop-lifting.  The circumstances of this case are rather curious, and possess… Continue reading

From the Cork Constitution, 5 March 1896: “DUBLIN WEDNESDAY To-day the Master of the Rolls had before him a case which brought to light a modern Enoch Arden. In 1866 William Henry Boyle, son of a well-known barrister, emigrated to… Continue reading