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President Higgins pardons Harry Gleeson, who was wrongly hanged 75 years ago for murder

President Michael D Higgins has granted the state's first posthumous pardon, for a man who was ha...
Newstalk
Newstalk

17.17 19 Dec 2015


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President Higgins pardons Harr...

President Higgins pardons Harry Gleeson, who was wrongly hanged 75 years ago for murder

Newstalk
Newstalk

17.17 19 Dec 2015


Share this article


President Michael D Higgins has granted the state's first posthumous pardon, for a man who was hanged for murder almost 75 years ago.

Harry Gleeson was convicted of murdering mother-of-seven Mary “Moll” McCarthy, whose body was found in a field in Tipperary in 1940.

However a Government review found that gardaí and the prosecution withheld crucial information and fabricated evidence against Mr Gleeson to secure a conviction.

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The formal review, headed by barrister Shane Murphy, was instigated after lobbying by the Irish Innocence Project and the Justice for Harry Gleeson group.

The President announced today that he has granted a posthumous pardon, after Gleeson was convicted and executed in circumstances found to be unsafe.

Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald expressed her sympathy and that of the Government to Mr. Gleeson's family and indicated her intention to hold a commemorative event for family members early in the New Year


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