Crime

Displaying 26 - 50 of 54 results on page 2 of 3

Goold, Vere Thomas St Leger

Goold, Vere Thomas St Leger (1853–1909), first notable Irish lawn tennis player, was born 2 October 1853 in Waterford, sixth son among seven children of George Ignatius Goold, justice of the peace and resident magistrate, and his wife Clara, daughter of Major General James Webber-Smith…

Grant, Albert

Grant, Albert (1831–99), MP, financial promoter, and fraudster, was born Abraham Zachariah Gottheimer in Dublin, 18 November 1831, son of Bernard/ Berton Gottheimer, a Jewish immigrant from central Europe, who traded in fancy goods from his premises at 61 Fleet St., Dublin. While he…

Gulston ('Scott'), Peter Craig

Gulston ('Scott'), Peter Craig (1931–2013), thief, variously described as the 'king of the cat burglars' and 'the human fly', was born on 18 February 1931 in Belfast, the younger of two children, to Frederick Arnott Gulston, chief commercial traveller for White, Tompkins and Courage…

Halloran (O'Halloran), Laurence Hynes

Halloran (O'Halloran), Laurence Hynes (1765–1831), schoolmaster, clergyman, writer, and forger, was born 29 December 1765 in Co. Meath. Orphaned while still a young child, he was raised by his uncle, Judge William Gregory, before attending Westminster School. In 1785 he opened a…

Hanley, Ellie

Hanley, Ellie (1803–19), the ‘Colleen bawn ’, was born in Ballycahane, near Croom, Co. Limerick, daughter of Michael Hanley, farmer, and his first wife (née Connery). At 6 years old, she was adopted by her mother's brother, John Connery, ropemaker, also of Ballycahane. Connery's…

Hare, William

This is a co-subject for the entry on Burke, William. View the original entry.

Joyce, Myles

Joyce, Myles (1837?–1882), victim of a miscarriage of justice, was the second of three sons of Shaun Joyce of Cappanacreha, Co. Galway, a desolate and isolated townland in the parish of Ross in the Joyce Country bordering Co. Mayo. Myles Joyce, a small farmer at Cappanacreha, who…

Kirwan, William Bourke

Kirwan, William Bourke (c.1814–1880?), convicted murderer, was born in Dublin the son of Patrick Kirwan, picture dealer, originally from Co. Fermanagh, and his wife. He studied art with Richard Downes Bowyer and became a skilled miniature painter. Between 1836 and 1846 he…

Kyteler (Kettle, Keyetler), Dame Alice

Kyteler (Kettle, Keyetler), Dame Alice (fl. 1324), accused of witchcraft and sorcery, was probably from a Kilkenny family, though nothing is known of her life prior to marriage. The Kytelers were a family of Flemish merchants who came to Ireland some time in the mid to late…

Leeson, Margaret (‘Peg’)

Leeson, Margaret (‘Peg’) (1727–97), prostitute, brothel-keeper, and memoirist, was born Margaret Plunket at Killough, Co. Westmeath, one of eight surviving children of Matthew Plunket, a wealthy farmer, and his wife, whose maiden name was O'Reilly. Most of what is known about Margaret…

Lynchehaun, James

Lynchehaun, James (1858/60–1937/46?), criminal, was born in Tonregee, Corraun, parish of Achill, Co. Mayo, son of Neal Lynchehaun, substantial sheep farmer, and Bridget Lynchehaun (née Cafferky). Having attended the village school, he was appointed class monitor at 14 and progressed…

Maclaine, James

Maclaine, James (1724–50), gentleman highwayman, was born in Co. Monaghan, second son among two sons and one daughter of the Rev. Lauchlin Maclaine, presbyterian minister, from Scotland, and Elizabeth Maclaine (née Milling). His brother,

MacNaghten, John

MacNaghten, John (1722–61), murderer, was born in 1722, probably in Benvarden, Co. Antrim, elder of two sons of Bartholomew MacNaghten, landowner in Co. Antrim and merchant in Derry city, and his wife Mary (née MacManus); he also had a sister. When John was about six, his father…

Mansfield, Jim

Mansfield, Jim (1939–2014), businessman, was born on 9 April 1939 in the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, one of three sons of Mary Mansfield. There is no reference to a father on his birth certificate. He was brought up by his mother on a plot of land at Crooksling, Brittas, Co. Dublin, and…

McAuley, Jeremiah (‘Jerry’)

McAuley, Jeremiah (‘Jerry’) (c.1839–84), reformed criminal and missionary, was born in Ireland, the abandoned son of a counterfeiter. Raised by his grandmother as a Roman Catholic, he did not attend school and at the age of 13 was sent to America to live with his sister…

McGrath, William

McGrath, William (1916–91), loyalist and paedophile, was born 11 December 1916 in Belfast, son of Abraham McGrath and Jane McGrath (née Warrington). McGrath came from a methodist background; in later years he worked with presbyterian and Free Presbyterian churches while operating as a…

Murphy, Hugh Leonard Thompson (‘Lenny’)

Murphy, Hugh Leonard Thompson (‘Lenny’) (1952–82), loyalist paramilitary and sectarian killer, was born 2 March 1952 in Belfast, third and youngest son of William Murphy and Joyce Murphy (née Thompson). The family suffered harassment due to the mistaken belief that William Murphy…

Nelson, Brian

Nelson, Brian (1947–2003), loyalist paramilitary and undercover agent, was born 30 September 1947 in Belfast, one of six children of Adam Nelson, shipyard worker, and his wife Maisie. His parents lived on Crosby Street in the Shankill Road area of west Belfast. The family had catholic…

Outlaw, William

This is a co-subject for the entry on Kyteler (Kettle, Keyetler), Dame Alice. View the original entry.

Payne, Davy (Hugh David)

Payne, Davy (Hugh David) (1948?–2003), loyalist paramilitary, was born in Belfast, where he was brought up in the Woodvale area of the Shankill Road. He was involved in loyalist activism from his teens (although he later falsely claimed to have been radicalised by IRA bombings in the…

Ryan, Luke

Ryan, Luke (1750–89), privateer and smuggler, was born on 14 February 1750 in Rush, Co. Dublin, the son of Michael Ryan, a farmer of Kenure, near Rush, and his wife Mary (née Taylor). As a child he attended the country school at Hackettstown, near Skerries, Co. Dublin. In 1762 he…

Sadleir, John

Sadleir, John (1813–56), banker, politician, speculator, and swindler, was born 17 November 1813 at Shronell House in the parish of Shronell near Tipperary town, fifth of seven children born to Clement William Sadleir, a protestant farmer and middleman, whose earliest known…

Shackleton, Francis Richard (‘Frank’)

Shackleton, Francis Richard (‘Frank’) (1876–1941), Dublin Herald of Arms (1905–7), was born 19 September 1876 at Kilkea House, Kilkea, Co. Kildare, second son of Henry Shackleton and Henrietta Letitia Sophia Shackleton (née Gavan). His elder brother was Sir…

Sheehy, Edmund

Sheehy, Edmund (1733–66), farmer executed for murder, of Lodge (parish of Ardfinnan, Co. Tipperary), was the son of Ellin Fitzpatrick. He was otherwise known as ‘Buck’ Sheehy, a term indicative of semi-gentleman status, as he had an income of £300 or £400 a year, and was a person…

Smyth, Brendan

Smyth, Brendan (1927–97), catholic priest and paedophile, was born John Gerard Smyth in Nansen Street, off the Falls Road, west Belfast, on 6 June 1927. He was educated at Barracks Street CBS, Belfast. In 1945 he joined the Norbertine…