The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
John Twiss pardon on horizon
WHEN President Michael D. Higgins signed a posthumous pardon for Myles Joyce - or Maolra Seoighe as gaeilge - in early April 2018 it was the first case of its kind from before the foundation of the state to be so examined and signed off.
Joyce was one of three Connemara men hanged for the Maamtrasna murders in Galway in December 1882
It was a case famous as much for its brutality as for the miscarriage of justice which followed. It was the focus of a TG4 documentary shown not so long ago.
A case closer to home which has gripped the imagination of the locality is that of the wrongful hanging of John Twiss of Cordal in Cork prison some 13 years after the Maamtrasna trials and hangings.
The Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project Committee joined up with the forces of The Crown – The Crown Hotel that is, on Friday night to stage an exhibition of John Twiss memorabilia and to draw attention also the case of Poff and Barrett.
The latter two were also hanged on shaky evidence in Tralee over a decade before the Twiss case. In fact, John Twiss in his speech from the dock, made reference to that as a miscarriage of justice.
Around 60 seats were taken up for Friday night’s event in the Crown’s function room and the letter from Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan, TD was the sole focus of attention for many.
John Twiss’ descendants, Helen O’Connor and Denis Sayers were present on the occasion and heard invited guest, Minister Brendan Griffin TD reading the letter of hope.
It was obvious from the contents of the letter that there are no more hurdles to be jumped in the bid to clear the name of John Twiss of a crime he could not have committed.
Friday night’s meeting provided the stage for a giant step towards having the name of John Twiss join Myles Joyce in receiving a posthumous pardon before being signed into the constitution at Áras an Uachtaráin.
A clearly delighted Helen O’Connor sat at the top table beside Minister Griffin and project Chairman Johnnie Roche.
She thanked Minister Griffin for taking such a genuine interest in the case and Johnnie Roche and his committee for its work in getting it on the agenda.
The exhibition, both digital and tangible, was put together by project Manager Janet Murphy with technical assistance from Moss Hartnett of Tomo Burke’s.
The forces of The Crown sponsored tea/coffee and biscuits and threw the use of the hall in free of charge.