A harrowing scene unfolded in Limerick, as a special court convened yesterday to hear the distressing details of a brutal crime that resulted in the tragic death of Jane Tracey. The accused—Michael Donlan, Elizabeth Donlan, John Reid, Ellen Organ, and Margaret Quinn—all residents of the tinker class, faced charges of the wilful murder of Jane Tracey.

The courtroom bore witness to painful testimony, with a fourteen-year-old son of the deceased recounting the horrifying events leading to his mother’s demise. According to the young witness, Elizabeth Donlan and Margaret Quinn forcibly seized his mother, dragging her from her bed, down a flight of stairs, and onto the street. Once in the open, the attackers proceeded to kick and strike her with a bucket. Disturbingly, the boy recounted that other prisoners, including John Reid and Ellen Organ, joined in the vicious assault. Shockingly, one of the female prisoners was reported to have callously wiped the blood from the street with the deceased woman’s shawl.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, the young boy testified that John Donlan, a relative of the accused, threatened a similar fate for his father. Bridget O’Connor, a factory worker residing in an adjacent house, provided corroborative evidence, affirming the boy’s account of the violent attack. She stated that after striking the deceased with a bucket, she overheard Michael Donlan expressing a chilling sentiment, “If I had a knife, I would cut her up.” Margaret Quinn reportedly remarked, “We have her finished now; we had better move on.”

Medical experts, Dr Graham and Dr O’Brien, offered their professional insights, confirming that the cause of Jane Tracey’s death was attributed to a laceration of the brain. The court, confronted with the shocking evidence and the gravity of the charges, adjourned the proceedings until today.

The unfolding tragedy has cast a dark shadow over the community in Limerick, prompting reflection on the safety and well-being of its residents. As the court reconvenes, the quest for justice intensifies, shedding light on the disturbing events that led to the untimely demise of Jane Tracey. The community awaits further developments in this poignant and distressing case that has left an indelible mark on the city of Limerick.

Irish Independent – Saturday 02 September 1911