In a gripping legal saga that has captured the attention of the nation, the Craughwell Tragedy is set to be tried in the esteemed King’s Bench Division. The case involves Michael Dermody and Thomas Hynes, inmates at Galway Jail, facing charges of the murder of Constable Martin Goldrick, alongside allegations of attempting to murder Patrick Malone and Patrick Coady with intent to murder. The legal proceedings took centre stage during the Winter Assizes but ended in a deadlock, leaving the nation in anticipation.

The legal battle, known colloquially as the Craughwell Murder Case, reached a crucial juncture this week. The Crown, represented by the Solicitor-General, K.C. and legal counsel, sought an order before the eminent panel comprising the Lord Chief Justice, Mr Justice Madden, and Mr Justice Wright.

The Crown’s legal team, led by the Solicitor-General, presented a compelling case for an order on behalf of the Crown. The application involved the transfer of the trial from Galway to Dublin or any other venue deemed fit by the court. This development comes after an earlier order of certiorari was obtained to relocate the trial to the King’s Bench Division from Galway.

The legal tussle was meticulously detailed in the affidavit presented by Mr Leatham, D. I., R.I.C., indicating the complexity and gravity of the case. The order of certiorari, previously secured, aimed at shifting the trial from Galway to the King’s Bench Division. This crucial move stemmed from the inconclusive trial during the Winter Assizes, a development that left the legal community and the public in suspense.

Representing the accused, Michael Dermody and Thomas Hynes, were Mr A. M. Sullivan, K.C., and Mr D. Corbyn, solicitor. They contested the Crown’s application, creating a charged atmosphere within the courtroom. The defence argued that a change in venue was warranted for fair and unbiased proceedings.

The focus of the legal battle centres on the charges against one of the prisoners, Michael Dermody, for the murder of Constable Martin Goldrick in January 1909. The incident occurred while Constable Goldrick was on protection duty, guarding labourers on the farm of Mrs. Mary Ryan, commonly referred to as the evicted farm. The Galway Assizes saw the indictment of the prisoners, leading to an adjournment of the trial to the next Galway Assizes.

The initial trial, held in Limerick during the Winter Assizes for Galway County, ended in a deadlock, with the jury failing to reach a unanimous verdict. The Crown’s subsequent attempt to bring the matter to Dublin through certiorari prompted the current legal proceedings.

Counsel for the defence urged the court to consider a change of venue, citing the contentious nature of the charges and the potential for bias in Craughwell. The defence’s argument rested on the assertion that a fair trial necessitated a shift in location, either to Dublin or another venue, within the court’s discretion.

As the legal community watches closely, the fate of Michael Dermody and Thomas Hynes hangs in the balance. The court’s decision on the change of venue is anticipated to set the stage for a precedent-setting trial that has already captured the imagination of the public. The Craughwell Tragedy application is one of the most closely watched legal dramas in recent memory.

Weekly Freeman’s Journal – Saturday 05 March 1910