In an intriguing tale that captivated the people of Ireland, the Irish Independent reports on the emergence of a sensational rumour surrounding a murder case that has long haunted the community. It is said that a man who was fatally shot in Canada confessed to being the true perpetrator of the infamous Kilbane murder that took place in Co. Limerick back in August 1902. The shocking revelation suggests that Twiss, who was executed for the crime, may have been innocent.
The Kilbane murder involved two agricultural labourers, Sullivan and Clifford, who were found with their throats brutally slashed. One died, and the other, upon recovering, was arrested. The subsequent trial was marked by two hung juries, leading to the accused’s eventual transfer to a Crown colony.
This recent confession, if verified, could finally provide closure to the long-standing doubts surrounding the Kilbane tragedy. The trial had puzzled and confounded jurors and the new revelation offers hope for a definitive resolution.
The case that led to Twiss’s hanging in Cork Gaol for the Glenlara murder becomes even more significant with this potential breakthrough. Twiss had consistently protested his innocence, passionately declaring from the dock that those condemning him would eventually realize the truth after his death. Efforts to commute his sentence were made, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.
The murdered man, Donovan, was found in a gruesome scene at his home in Glenlara, Co. Cork. The blood-stained walls and the red trail leading to the yard were haunting reminders of the horrific crime. Twiss, who lived in Cordal, Co. Kerry, roughly twenty miles away, was the prime suspect. However, doubt persisted about whether he could have made it to Glenlara in the time frame of the murder.
Despite the firm belief of the local community in Twiss’s innocence, the authorities were determined to prove otherwise. The case against him was fueled by a desire to have him “wanted,” even if he was not present at the scene of the crime. This speculation raises questions about whether the pursuit of justice may have led to a wrongful execution.
As this startling rumour spreads, people across Ireland remain eager for the truth to be revealed. If the confession is confirmed, it could potentially bring a measure of closure to a deeply troubling chapter in Irish history and offer a chance for redemption for the memory of Twiss.
Kerry News – Monday 06 March 1905
Recalling The Kilbane Murders
The day’s work had already commenced, but two labourers, Michael Clifford and John Sullivan, both in their twenties and hailing from County Kerry, were conspicuously absent from their sleeping quarters in the outhouse on James Nolan’s property in Kilbane, just outside Limerick. This tardiness was atypical for the two men who had been in Mr Nolan’s employ for several years and were known for their sobriety and industriousness, as reported by The Irish Times.
As minutes turned into anxious hours, the sun gradually illuminated the early morning of September 12, 1900. At around 5:30 am, a servant named Maggie Sullivan was dispatched to rouse the missing men, who customarily shared a loft and bed. Her repeated calls for them to wake went unanswered. In response, she alerted Mr Nolan, who decided to investigate the situation himself.
Mr Nolan ascended a small flight of six stone steps to reach the outhouse and entered the loft. The scene that greeted him was nothing short of horrifying: both men lay undressed in a single bed, their throats slashed from ear to ear, according to The Irish Times report. Michael Clifford had succumbed to his injuries and was lifeless, while John Sullivan, although gravely wounded, remained unconscious.
Upon discovering the gruesome scene, Dr Holmes of Limerick was summoned to assess the situation. His examination led him to estimate that Michael Clifford had already succumbed to his injuries several hours before. The severity of Clifford’s wound was evident, as it had cut an inch deep, severing major arteries and the windpipe. John Sullivan’s neck had also been slashed across, but the wound was less severe, particularly in the area of the windpipe. Dr Holmes noted that the injuries appeared to have been inflicted with a razor.
As John Sullivan regained consciousness, the police arrived at the scene and approached him with inquiries. The first officer to enter the outhouse was Sergeant Peter Hogan.
When questioned by Sergeant Hogan, John Sullivan provided a chilling account of the attack: “I awoke when I found my throat cut,” he said. “I saw a man going out of the door. I did not know the man, and it was dark.”
Sullivan inferred that the same assailant who had attacked him must have also inflicted harm upon Michael Clifford. When asked how he knew about Clifford’s condition, Sullivan gestured but did not respond verbally. Notably, while Sullivan’s hands were stained with blood, no blood was found on Clifford.
District Inspector Hetreed arrived shortly thereafter and initiated a search for the razor that Dr Holmes believed had been used to commit the act. Sullivan claimed not to possess a razor at the time, as he had discarded his previous one, which he deemed “no good,” in the haggard. In contrast, Clifford owned a razor, according to Sullivan. Remarkably, District Inspector Hetreed located Clifford’s razor precisely where Sullivan had indicated, and it was found to be perfectly clean.
The day before the gruesome discovery, the two men, Michael Clifford and John Sullivan, had ventured to Limerick city with James Nolan’s milk cart. After returning from the city, they retired for the night, and there were no reported sightings or sounds during the night. It was only the following morning when Mr Nolan stumbled upon the harrowing scene in the loft.
District Inspector Hetreed acted on the circumstantial evidence and arrested John Sullivan on suspicion of murder. However, he still needed to locate the murder weapon. A search of the loft initially yielded no results.
On the subsequent day, September 13th, the police returned to the scene for further investigation. Constable Nealon, one of the officers, made a significant discovery. While searching the rafters, he exclaimed, “I have it!” Perched atop one of the rafters was a blood-covered razor with the inscriptions “5MF,” “461,” and “90.”
The razor was presented to the District Inspector, and after a magisterial inquiry, John Sullivan was committed for trial at the Cork Winter Assizes.
In court, the prosecution alleged a motive: a dispute had erupted between the two men, leading to Sullivan cutting Clifford’s throat. Sullivan then purportedly inflicted a superficial wound upon himself to strengthen his narrative of being a victim in the incident.
The court proceedings brought forth various pieces of evidence, shedding some light on the case. Sarah O’Donoghue, an aunt of Mr Nolan who resided opposite the loft, testified that she had slept soundly and heard no unusual sounds suggesting someone entering or exiting the room throughout the night. However, Constable William Stanley stated that on the night of September 11th, he overheard Clifford and Sullivan speaking to each other in a heated manner as they returned from Limerick. Their voices were raised, but the exact nature of their argument was unclear.
The mystery of the razor was central to the case. George Manning, a private in the British army, recalled giving Sullivan a razor, although he couldn’t be certain which one it was from his multiple razor giveaways. Manning did remember receiving a razor himself from another private, Michael Moloney, while they were at Kilworth Camp in 1896. Michael Moloney provided more specific information about the razor he had given to Manning: “The number of [Moloney’s] kit at that time was 461; in common with the other articles of the kit, the razor was stamped with the witness’s kit number, 461. It was also usual to stamp the number of the year on it. The razor (produced) had witness’s kit number on it, and must be the razor he gave Manning. It had 5MF on it – 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers and also the number 90 – the date on which witness got the kit.”
Despite the compelling evidence, especially concerning the alleged murder weapon, John Sullivan was not convicted after a jury failed to reach a unanimous decision at the Cork Winter Assizes. The same outcome occurred at the Limerick Spring Assizes and once more at the Limerick Summer Assizes. In his third trial, the jury was sequestered overnight. When they still couldn’t agree, the judge encouraged further deliberation, but the foreman expressed futility. Ultimately, the jury was discharged, and Sullivan was remanded until the next assizes.
Approximately a month later, just over a year after being discovered in bed beside his deceased friend, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ordered John Sullivan’s release. A note on his prison records marked his fate: “Handed over to RIC (by order of his Excellency) 23rd August 1901 & sent to America.”
Irish Times, September 1900
