The Manchester Martyrs – IRB members William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O’Brien – were publicly hanged on November 23rd, 1867, for the killing of a Manchester policeman, Charles Brett. Brett was inside a prison van carrying two IRB leaders when it was set upon by 30 or more people (depicted at the top of the mural). The attendant escort fled, leaving Brett inside; he was killed by a bullet fired into the lock. Five people were convicted, one of whom, O’Meagher Condon, shouted “God save Ireland” during the trial – this was turned into an extremely popular song in memory of the three (Wolfe Tones version). Their graves were discovered in 2003 (Irish Times) and a campaign was waged to repatriate their corpses (Sinn Féin).
Divis Street, Belfast
M02884
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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