Manchester martyrs, 3 fenians are executed michael larkin, william philip allen, and michael o' brien

November 23rd , 1867

The Manchester Martyrs (Irish: Mairtirígh Mhanchain) were three Irish nationalists – William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O’Brien – who were hanged in 1867 following their conviction of murder after an attack on a police van in Manchester, England, in which a police officer was accidentally shot dead, an incident that was known at the time as the Manchester Outrages.

They were members of the Fenian movement, a revolutionary Irish nationalist organization that aimed to secure Ireland’s independence from British rule.

The events leading to their execution unfolded during an attempt by Fenian members to rescue two of their colleagues, Thomas J. Kelly and Timothy Deasy, who were being transported to Belle Vue Gaol in a police van. The Fenians attacked the prison van in an effort to free their comrades but were unsuccessful.

During the rescue attempt, a police officer named Sergeant Charles Brett was shot and killed. Subsequently, Larkin, Allen, and O’Brien were arrested and charged with his murder. The trial was controversial, and the three men were found guilty despite concerns about the fairness of the proceedings.

On November 23, 1867, Michael Larkin, William Philip Allen, and Michael O’Brien were executed by hanging at Salford Gaol in Manchester. The executions of these Fenians led to a significant public outcry, and they became known as the “Manchester Martyrs” in Irish nationalist history. The events surrounding their deaths fueled further anti-British sentiment and contributed to the Fenian tradition of commemorating them as martyrs for the cause of Irish independence.

More From This Day

Related Countries

blog Ireland

bagpipes of ireland

bagpipes of ireland

blog Ireland

great irish warpipes

great irish warpipes

blog Ireland

Pastoral Pipes

Pastoral Pipes

blog Ireland

minstrel boy

minstrel boy

blog Ireland

wearing of the green

wearing of the green

blog Ireland

celtic fiddle

celtic fiddle

blog Ireland

flute

flute

blog Ireland

low whistle

low whistle

blog Ireland

tin whistle

tin whistle

blog Ireland

uilleann pipes

uilleann pipes

No related content found.