IRL-GALWAY-L Archives

Archiver > IRL-GALWAY > 2001-12 > 1009399055


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [GALWAY] !! Connaught Journal; July 14, 1823
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 14:38:37 -0600


Connaught Journal
published Galway, Ireland
Monday, July 14, 1823

FLAGITIOUS OCCURRENCE
Several highly respectable Magistrates of this County met on Tuesday last,
in Loughrea, for the purpose of investigating the conduct of a Roman
Catholic Clergyman, who had been charged by a woman named Margaret CORCORAN,
with the crime of adultery, and proposing to her to destroy the infant, of
which the Rev. Gentleman was the parent. The Clergyman is the Rev. Denis
O'CALLAGHAN, P.P. of Kiltormer. Margaret CORCORAN swore to the above facts
before Walter LAURENCE, esq. of Belview, J.P. and in the course of a very
few days afterwards went before another Magistrate, Thomas Dillon HEARN, of
Hearnsbrook, Esq, wth another affidavit of an opposite tendency, stating, in
strong and direct terms, that what she had previously sworn to was not the
truth, and that she was instigated to the crimination of the Clergyman by a
Police Officer. Let it be understood the Clergyman had no communication with
this unfortunate woman at the time intervening between the affidavits, nor
any persons on his behalf or with his knowledge, consent or authority.
However, the Magistrates met, investigated the matter, and came to the
following determination:-

"We, the undersigned Magistrates, having taken into consideration certain
charges made by Margaret CORCORAN against the Rev. Mr. O'CALLAGHAN, and Mr.
WATERS, officer of Police, and finding the said Margaret CORCORAN has sworn
in positive and direct contradiction before two Magistrates of this County,
we consider her testimony utterly unworthy of belief as affecting the
conduct or character of either of the Gentlemen she has thus sworn against;
and we are further of opinion as this woman's conduct is to be investigated
at next Assizes, that any further proceedings on our part is at present
unadvisable.
Signed on behalf of the Magistrates, J. BURKE, Bart. Chairman.
Loughrea, July 9, 1823"

The Magistrates present were- Sir John BURKE, Bart. Marble-hill; Colonel
M'DERMOTT, Ramore; Walter LAWRENCE, Belview; Thomas Dillon HEARN, of
Hearns-brook; Thos. SEYMOUR, Bellimore; Thomas S. EYRE, Eyresville; and
Thomas D'ARCY, Chief Magistrate of Police, Esqrs.- The Prosecutrix, Margaret
CORCORAN, has been committed to our County Prison, to stand her trial at the
next Assizes for perjury. We regret extremely that that circumstance
presents us from dwelling as we could wish upon this infamous transaction;
but if it shall appear in evidence, that this woman- this unfortunate
deluded woman, has been an instrument in the hand of the Police Officer to
mar the character of this respectable Clergyman with his flock, and to place
a halter around his neck- we say, if such doings as these are not checked in
the commencement, and torn up by the roots, it will be scarcely possible to
live in the country. The more exemplary, the more moral, and the more
religious the Clergyman is the sooner will he be marked out by those who
make a profession of calumny, and thrive on the destruction of character and
reputation. It is not the degenerate outcast from the Church that will be
held up to public reprobation. Oh!, no; his influence can be but trifling.
Deprived of those functions which are attached to the clerical character,
his weight with the community cannot be shaken because he dos not possess
any. It is the Divine alone who gives his unpaid exertions to the "cure of
souls," who seems to "live, move and have his being" merely for the
discharge of his sacred duties, that is the target for those little
scarecrow marksmen. Indeed, we have never seen the Reverent Mr. O'CALLAGHAN,
but we have heard of him. We have heard of the intense anxiety which his
case created in the Town of Loughrea, and in the neighbourhood; and, indeed,
we are not surprised that the anxiety should be intense, when the
well-earned character of so amiable and exemplary a Clergyman was sought to
be made a victim to a premeditated perjury and a deep-laid conspiracy. The
Reverend Gentleman burning with a desire for an immediate and public
investigation, addressed the two following notes to the Magistrates:-

Loughrea, One o'Clock
GENTLEMEN- As my character is the subject of this day's Meeting of the
Magistrates, I beg the investigation may be a public one. I am ready with my
witnesses to attend as soon as you shall think proper, and I shall be
entirely guided by you. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, your obedient
Servant,
Denis O'CALLAGHAN

Loughrea, Three o'Clock
GENTLEMEN- I think it but fair that as my character has been publicly
injured, the investigation should be public. Gentlemen, your obedient
Servant,
Denis O'CALLAGHAN

The Magistrates, however, could not grant the request and Mr. O'CALLAGHAN
sent us the following Note. The Assizes approaches fast. We shall keep a
close eye on this really important trial. Something may come out; and Mr.
O'CALLAGHAN and the public may depend that we shall do our duty:-

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL
SIR- I this day arrived in Loughrea, for the purpose of submitting to an
investigation which I conceived would be a public one; but being informed
that the Magistrates intended that it should be private, and anxious as I
was that the business should be tried in as public a manner as possible in
order that all parties should be enabled to form an impartial opinion, I
wrote the above Notes to the Magistrates. They, however, declined acceding
to my wishes; and I have been since informed, very justly, for they were not
qualified to get into the merits of a case the chief character in which has
been committed to prison, to abide her trial for perjury. I trust that it is
unnecessary for me to request of the public to suspend their opinions until
such time as the light of law and justice shall have defeated those base
fabrications against my character which I hold much dearer than my life. I
have the honor to be, Sir, you obedient Servant,
Denis O'CALLAGHAN
Loughrea, Tuesday, July 9, 1823

NUISANCE
A most intolerable smell arises from the fish-entrails, &c. which are
suffered to remain in the street in front of the Fish market. The proper
persons should have the cause of this nuisance removed, for it is not very
agreeable to the Gentry who frequent the public streets and shops to have
this nuisance in existence. We trust that this suggestion will be attended
to.

MAD DOGS
Several mad dogs have infested the streets and suburbs of this town for the
last few days. Some persons have been bitten,and several Gentlemen have been
obliged to shoot these dogs who had caught the infection. We think it is the
immediate duty of the Mayor to see that and end shall be put to this
nuisance. Placing logs on the animals necks will not answer so well.
Muzzling will, we think, be more effacacious; and the Mayor should inflict
penalties on such as suffer their dogs to go abroad without this precaution.

DIED
Suddenly on the morning of Friday last, Mrs. BURKE, relict of the late James
BURKE, Esq. of Danesfield, in this County.- It is unnecessary to say, that
this excellent lady possessed every thing that could render her society
agreeable, and her death a subject of regret to her friends, and the poor
whose necessities she always felt a pleasure in relieving.

In Lombard-street, yesterday morning, Mr. Michael WALSH, publican.

A young man named HANEEN, was killed at the Races of Ballyea, county Kerry,
by a blow of a shovel.

NOTICE TO WHEELWRIGHTS
Proposals to be received by Mr. Robert Wm POTTER, of Tuam, for a quantity of
Spinning Wheels and Reels to be made according to a pattern to be seen at
his Store.- if by letter to be post paid.- Tuam, July ??, 1823




Cathy Joynt Labath
Celtic Cousins
http://www.celticcousins.net/

Search the Newspaper Abstracts at:
Ireland Newspaper Abstracts
http://www.newswpaperabstracts.com/Ireland/


This thread: