Ballyfacey, Glenmore Evictions & Riot at Mullinavat (1885)

According to contemporary newspaper reports, one consequence of the events of the failed evictions at Ballyfacey, Glenmore on 27^th of August 1885, and the Mullinavat riots that evening, was that over thirty persons were charged with criminal offences. [For details regarding the events of the 27th of August 1885 see, Glenmore Land League and the Ballyfacey Evictions, posted 8 March 2020.]

Trials

Two days of trials were held at the Kilmacow Petty sessions on the 10^th and 11^th of September 1885. The magistrates that presided were: Raymond de la Poer, Chair; J.C. Elliott, H. Thynne, Resident Magistrate; Albert G. Meldoy, Resident Magistrate; Colonel Miller, Resident Magistrate. It was reported that six principal offenders were sentenced to imprisonment and the remaining thirty-one defendants were discharged with the consent of the Crown (Huntly Express (Scotland) “Recent Riots in Ireland,” 12 Sept. 1885).

The list of 28 persons charged, their respective townlands and their charges were gleaned from the Waterford Standard, Saturday 12 September 1885.

The verdicts and sentences rendered by the court were provided in the Waterford Standard of Wednesday the 16^th of September 1885.  Some of the names of defendants provided on 12 September do not match the defendants provided on 16 September. Names that do not match names provided in the newspaper article of the 16th are provided but struck through.

Trial Chart

Defendant	Townland	Charges—On 27 Aug. 1885	Verdict & Sentence
George Richard Forrestal	Ballylough	At Ballyfacey (1) Assaulted Sgt. McShane & Const. McKinly (2) Riot (3) At Mullinavat assaulted Const. Donnelly	(1) guilty of assaulting Sgt. McShane—Sentence 1 calendar month of imprisonment in the Kilkenny Gaol with hard labour (3) guilty of assaulting Const. Donnelly—Sentence 3 months imprisonment with hard labour. Sentences to run consecutively.
Peter John Kinsella	Not provided	At Ballyfacey (1) Assaulted Sgt. McShane & Const. McKinly (2) Unlawful assembly	Found not guilty, case dismissed. (A Patrick Kinsella was also found not guilty per the 16 Sept. 1885 article.)
Peter Foskin	Deerpark	At Ballytfacey (1) Aided & abetted Patrick Cantwell & Richard Forrestal to assault Sgt. McShane & Const. McKinly (2) unlawful assembly
Richard Walsh	Ballyfacey	At Ballyfacey (1)Aiding and abetting in assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
John Walsh	Ballyfacey	At Ballyfacey (1)Aiding and abetting in assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Thomas Reddy	Ballyfacey	At Ballyfacey (1)Aiding and abetting in assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
John Ryan	Guilcough	At Ballyfacey (1)Aiding and abetting in assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
John Cummins	Ballyfacey	At Ballyfacey (1)Aiding and abetting in assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Edward Grant	Ballyvarring	At Ballyfacey (1)Aiding and abetting in assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Michael Walsh	Haggard	At Mullinavat (1) Unlawful assembly (2) assaulted the police
Paul Fitzgerald	Knockbrach	Aiding and abetting said assault
Robert Patrick Ivory	Kilbride	Aiding and abetting said assault	Guilty of assaulting Const. George Kingston—sentence 14 days with hard labour; other charges against him were withdrawn
Patrick Walsh	Ballyfacey	Aiding and abetting said assault
John Hart	Darbystown	Aiding and abetting said assault
John Fitzgerald	Ballyvanny	Aiding and abetting said assault
Thomas Ryan	Ballyknockboy	Aiding and abetting said assault
Martin Gaule	Garrandarrah	Aiding and abetting said assault
John Cantwell	Mullinavat	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Thomas Thompson	Clonassy	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly	Guilty of assaulting Const. Ivors. Sentence—14 days imprisonment
Michael Aylward	Clonassy	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Thomas Forristal	Ballyknockboy	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly	Guilty and sentenced to 7 days imprisonment with hard labour. Other case against him withdrawn.
Richard Shea	Ballyquin	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
John Hanrahan	Ballyquin	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Thomas Hanly	Waterford	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Thomas Walsh	Listerlin	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly	Guilty and sentenced to 1 calendar month imprisonment with hard labour
Michael Corcoran	Listerlin	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
William Coonan	Ballyknock	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
Thomas Farrell	Killaney	At Mullinavat (1) assaulting the police (2) unlawful assembly
John Fitzpatrick (only listed in paper of 16 Sept. 1855)	[not provided]	[charges not provided]	Guilty of assaulting Const. Mullally. Imprisoned for 1 calendar month with hard labour.

Withdrawal of all Riot Cases

At the conclusion of the trials Mr. Strange, of Waterford, one of the solicitors for the defendants stated that Thomas Forrestal was a special case that should be stated for the Queen’s Bench and requested that the sentence be stayed to save the defendant applying for a writ of habeas corpus. Strange also indicated that the second sentence of Richard Forrestal would be appealed. The Chair of the court announced the withdrawal of all riot cases against all defendants.