Executions in Northern Ireland in the 20th century.

Total number of executions in Northern Ireland during the 20th century : 16.

Date

Name

Prison

Victim(s)

Hangman

11/01/1901

William Woods

Belfast

Bridget McGivern

Thomas Scott

05/01/1904

Joseph Moan

Londonderry

Rose Ann McCann

William Billington

22/12/1904

Joseph Fee

Armagh

John Flanagan

Henry Pierrepoint

20/08/1908

John Berryman

Londonderry

William Berryman, Jean Berryman

Henry Pierrepoint

19/08/1909

Richard Justin

Belfast

Annie Thompson

Henry Pierrepoint

17/08/1922

Simon McGeown

Belfast

Margaret (Maggie) Fullerton

John Ellis

08/02/1923

William Rooney

Londonderry

Lily Johnston

William Willis

08/05/1924

Michael Pratley

Belfast

Nelson Leech

William Willis

08/08/1928

William Smiley

Belfast

Margaret Macauley, Sarah Macauley

Tom Pierrepoint

08/04/1930

Samuel Cushnan

Belfast

James McCann

Tom Pierrepoint

31/07/1931

Thomas Dornan

Belfast

Isabella Aitken, Margaret Aitken

Tom Pierrepoint

13/01/1932

Eddie Cullens

Belfast

Achmet Musa

Tom Pierrepoint

07/04/1933

Harold Courtney

Belfast

Minnie Reid

Tom Pierrepoint

02/09/1942

Thomas Joseph Williams

Belfast

Patrick Murphy

Tom Pierrepoint

25/07/1961

Samuel McLaughlin

Belfast

Nellie (Maggie) McLaughlin

Harry Allen

20/12/1961

Robert McGladdery

Belfast

Pearl Gamble

Harry Allen

All of these hangings were for murder. There were 12 executions at Crumlin Road prison, Belfast, three at Londonderry and one at Armagh. (A total of 17 men were hanged at Crumlin Road prison between 1854 and 1961). Albert Browne, a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), was found guilty of killing a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in October 1972 for which he was sentenced to death but this was later commuted to life imprisonment.  19 year old Liam Holden, who had killed a soldier, was the last person to receive the death sentence in Northern Ireland and this was also commuted in July 1973.  The death penalty was abolished in 1973 as part of the Emergency Provisions Act.  Crumlin Road prison closed in March 1996 and has since re-opened as a tourist attraction.

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For a more detailed look at capital punishment in Northern Ireland go to my friend Eamonn’s website at
https://sites.google.com/site/northernirelandexecutions/