Northern Ireland Executions 1900-1961

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

DateNamePrisonVictim(s)Hangman
11/01/1901William WoodsBelfastBridget McGivernThomas Scott
05/01/1904Joseph MoanLondonderryRose Ann McCannWilliam Billington
22/12/1904Joseph FeeArmaghJohn FlanaganHenry Pierrepoint
20/08/1908John BerrymanLondonderryWilliam Berryman, Jean BerrymanHenry Pierrepoint
19/08/1909Richard JustinBelfastAnnie ThompsonHenry Pierrepoint
17/08/1922Simon McGeownBelfastMargaret (Maggie) FullertonJohn Ellis
08/02/1923William RooneyLondonderryLily JohnstonWilliam Willis
08/05/1924Michael PratleyBelfastNelson LeechWilliam Willis
08/08/1928William SmileyBelfastMargaret Macauley, Sarah MacauleyTom Pierrepoint
08/04/1930Samuel CushnanBelfastJames McCannTom Pierrepoint
31/07/1931Thomas DornanBelfastIsabella Aitken, Margaret AitkenTom Pierrepoint
13/01/1932Eddie CullensBelfastAchmet MusaTom Pierrepoint
07/04/1933Harold CourtneyBelfastMinnie ReidTom Pierrepoint
02/09/1942Thomas Joseph WilliamsBelfastPatrick MurphyTom Pierrepoint
25/07/1961Samuel McLaughlinBelfastNellie (Maggie) McLaughlinHarry Allen
20/12/1961Robert McGladderyBelfastPearl GambleHarry 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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