Six Executions in Dublin, mentioned in Nicholas Whittle's Statement

Six Executions in Dublin.

Article from ‘The Times’ of Mar 15th 1921.

DUBLIN, MARCH 14, 2021:

Dublin has been in mourning to-day for the six men who were executed in the early hours in Mountjoy Gaol. Large crowds waited kneeling in prayer in the rain outside the prison and by order of the Irish Labour Party all work in the city was suspended until 11 o'clock.

The men were hanged in pairs at hourly intervals at 6, 7, and 8 o'clock, the first intimation that the sentences had been carried out being the following notice, which was posted outside the prison shortly after 8 o'clock.

The Notice Read:

Sentences of the law passed upon Thomas Wheelan and Patrick Moran (found guilty of murder), and Francis Flood, Thomas Bryan, Patrick Doyle, and Bernard Ryan (found guilty of high treason by levying war), were carried into execution this morning.

At that time there was outside the prison a crowd of several thousands, which included relatives of the condemned men. The people had begun to gather soon after 5 o'clock, when the Curfew Order expired. They were for the most part, women, who came with lighted candles and religious emblems and they remained kneeling in prayer in the muddy road near the prison until the posting of the official notice. A light rain was falling. Military and police patrols passed and repassed. On one occasion a tender laden with Crown forces came close to the edge of the kneeling throng; the people did not move, and the car turned back and took another route to the city.

The order issued by the Irish Labour Party last night that there should be no work in the city until 11 o'clock to-day as a protest by Labour against the executions was loyally observed and as the morning advanced a large number of working men and women joined those already outside the gaol.

WITHIN THE PRISON:

Shortly after 5 o'clock three Roman Catholic chaplains were admitted to the prison, and when the inner gates were opened it was seen that an armoured car was stationed inside. The waiting crowd in the semi-darkness of the early morning watched two windows in which a light was seen once or twice. A figure seemed to approach from within and raise a hand as if in farewell, and the crowd, which was now much excited, waved handkerchiefs in reply. Within the prison itself everything was silent; no bell tolled to announce the executions and no black flag was hoisted.

The first pair to be executed were Thomas Wheelan and Patrick Moran, who were convicted of complicity in the murders of military officers in Dublin on November 21. They, as well as the other four prisoners, displayed remarkable composure. Soon after 5 o'clock the senior chaplain entered their cell and celebrated Mass. At its conclusion 'Ellis, the executioner, and an assistant appeared at the door. The prisoners bade farewell to the chaplain, their auxiliary police guards, and the warders, and set out for the execution chamber, only a short distance away. As the city clocks were striking 6 the bolt was drawn.

After hearing Mass, Bryan and Doyle were executed at 7 o'clock, and Flood and Ryan, the youngest two prisoners, at 8 o'clock.

Before the crowds outside separated a formal request was made by the relatives for the bodies, but it is understood that the request was refused. After the executions the chaplains left the gaol by a side door, and when it became known that they had left, the crowd quickly dispersed.

The stoppage of work was general, in the townships as well as in the city. No tramway cars were run until nearly midday, and all workshops and factories remained closed. Rain fell constantly, and there were few people abroad. At midday work was resumed every- where, and there were no outward signs of excitement.