The Crime and Motive
Twenty-nine-year-old Margaret Shiel, known as Peggy, was executed with her brother, twenty-four-year-old Laurence, at Tullamore Gaol in County Offaly, Ireland, on Friday, the 27th of May 1870, for the murder of thirty-six-year-old Patrick Dunne over a land dispute.
The Shiels lived with their father, Patrick, at Kilcroe on a forty-acre farm. There was a long-running feud between the two families over the cutting of peat on a disputed part of their adjoining lands.
Laurence’s brother Peter had served a six-month prison sentence for an earlier assault on Dunne, which enraged Margaret, who was seeking revenge.
The Murder
Patrick Dunne lived with his mother at Toger in Philipstown, King’s County (now Daingean in County Offaly). The pair ambushed Dunne on his way home from the pub at Philipstown on the evening of the 26th of February 1870.
At around 7:30 p.m., he was found lying in a drain beside the road by a labourer named Thomas Russell. He was still alive and moaning in pain from two bullet wounds but was able to tell Russell that he had been shot with a pistol by Peggy.
He was taken into Philipstown and treated by Dr. Clarke. He gave the police a dying declaration, stating, “I met Peggy Shiel and Laurence Shiel on the road, they bid me goodnight, and then Peggy fired a shot at me.” Dunne died later that night.
Arrest and Trial
Margaret was arrested at her home, but Laurence had fled. He was arrested at Queenstown while trying to board a ship bound for America. He had used the name Byrne on his papers.
The Shiels were tried before Chief Justice Monahan at Tullamore Assizes on the 31st of March 1870. Two witnesses to the murder testified, as did Constable Haslett, who had attended the incident and found the revolver. He was able to identify it as belonging to Laurence, who had it repaired by the local blacksmith the previous day.
Two other witnesses testified that they had heard Margaret make threats against Dunne. Margaret was reputed to have said, “If no one will shoot the scoundrel, I’ll do it myself!” She also said, “I will get him shot for money, or I will do it myself. I will get him shot for £10.”
Patrick Shiels testified in his children’s defense, stating that Margaret had not left the farm that evening and that he did not allow firearms on his property.
The trial lasted two days, with the jury preferring the prosecution’s case.
Appeal and Final Days
An appeal was lodged on the basis that Patrick Dunne’s dying declaration should not have been admitted as evidence because he did not know he was dying when he made it. This was dismissed. Several Catholic clergymen petitioned the Lord Lieutenant for a commutation of the death sentences.
In Tullamore Gaol, the brother and sister were attended daily by the Catholic Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Leonard. Neither confessed but both admitted the justice of their sentence.
Execution
At 7:00 a.m. on the morning of the execution, the pair were taken to the prison chapel to celebrate mass, conducted by the Rev. Leonard and three other Catholic priests. After mass, they were taken to separate rooms to be pinioned.
Margaret wore a brown jacket and a black silk skirt for her execution and had put her hair up in a net. It is reported that she walked with a firm step to the gallows set up in a yard at the back of the gaol. She placed herself under the beam and motioned Laurence to come up beside her. They prayed with the four clergymen.
At 8:00 a.m. the drop fell, and both were reported to have died without a struggle. After they were suspended, the prison bell was tolled, and the black flag flown to signify that the executions had been carried out. It was reported that just a dozen persons had gathered outside the prison.
The formal inquest was held, and the bodies were interred within the prison later that day.
Historical Significance
These were the first hangings in Ireland carried out within the prison walls, pursuant to the Capital Punishment (Amendment) Act of 1868.
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