One might assume that the quest for poetic inspiration would lead a poet or poetess far from the realms of slander lawsuits. However, a young woman from Askeaton, Limerick, with a talent for rhyming, showed a lofty disregard for conventional themes. Upon learning that her father, John Sheahan Jr., a butcher, was being sued by Mrs. Jane Sheahan, the young poetess boldly expressed herself, despite the ongoing legal proceedings.

“The jury found her guilty,” she wrote, “And the judge to her did say—
‘Now, my grey-haired woman, What brought you here today?'”

Her verses continued, and when the case came to court, Miss Sheahan, as reported by the “Irish Independent,” was encouraged by her counsel to recite some of her poetic lines. Here is the imagined reply of the “grey-haired woman”:

“My character is taken, And my solicitor laid it down,
To go before your lordship To get justice from the Crown.”

Mr Justice Andrew’s response was almost as anticipated:

“Go home, you foolish woman; Go home to Askeaton town;
You cannot get back your character, For you struck a woman down.”

The defendant, Mr Sheahan, was permitted to change the meter in his appeal to the jury:

“Gentlemen of the jury, please listen unto me;
I never used the words alleged, or did her injury –
I have one great trouble, which everyone does know;
So please give her verdict, and justice the law.”

The alleged slander that the plaintiff complained of consisted of the following phrases, which the defendant was accused of using:

“My wife often put you in a nutshell.”
“You have your shame lost, you are fighting with everyone.”
“You are worse than Purcell.”

In the end, the jury found in favor of the defendant, although it is not suggested that Miss Sheahan’s poetic lines had any influence on their decision.

Derby Daily Telegraph – Thursday 16 March 1905