Maurice O'Neill (Irish republican) facts for kids
Maurice O'Neill was an important member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was captured in 1942 after a gunfight with Irish police. He was quickly put on trial and executed. Maurice O'Neill was one of only two people executed in independent Ireland for a crime that was not murder.
Who Was Maurice O'Neill?
Maurice O'Neill grew up on a farm in Caherciveen, County Kerry. His family were strong Irish republicans, meaning they believed in a united and independent Ireland. Both Maurice and his older brother, Sean, were very dedicated to this cause.
Maurice O'Neill joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA was a group that aimed to achieve a united Ireland, sometimes using military actions. Maurice was part of the IRA's important "Northern Campaign" between 1942 and 1944. At the time he was captured, he was working for the IRA's main headquarters, known as GHQ. His brother Sean also served in the IRA's Dublin group and on the GHQ staff for many years.
His Arrest
On October 24, 1942, Maurice O'Neill was arrested in Donnycarney, Dublin. This happened after Irish police, called the Garda Síochána, raided a place. During the raid, a police detective officer named Mordant was shot and died.
The police were actually looking for another IRA member, Harry White, who was the IRA's Quartermaster General (in charge of supplies). Harry White managed to escape. Maurice O'Neill was arrested, but he was not charged with murder. Instead, he was charged with "shooting with intent," meaning he shot a weapon with a specific purpose. Some people believe the detective's death might have been caused by bullets exchanged between police officers themselves.
Trial and Execution
In 1939, the Irish government passed a law called the Offences against the State Acts 1939–1998. This law created special courts, known as Special Criminal Courts, to deal with certain serious crimes.
Maurice O'Neill was quickly tried in one of these special courts, which was like a military court. He was found guilty of a very serious crime that could lead to the death penalty. The law did not allow him to appeal the decision. He was sentenced to death and executed on November 12, 1942, just 19 days after his arrest. The execution was carried out by the Irish Army at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin. Maurice O'Neill's body was buried inside the prison grounds.
He was one of seven IRA members executed in Ireland between 1940 and 1944. Maurice O'Neill and Richard Goss were the only two people executed by the Irish state for a crime that was not murder.
Last Moments and Legacy
Maurice O'Neill's execution caused many protests, especially in his home county of Kerry, where he was well-liked. He was only 25 years old. He seemed very brave and calm when he knew what was going to happen. In a letter to his brother Sean, he wrote about facing his fate with courage.
In 1948, many Irish republican prisoners were released. Maurice O'Neill's body was also released on September 17, 1948. He is now buried in the Republican plot at Kilavarnogue Cemetery in Cahersiveen, County Kerry.
Maurice O'Neill's name is also on a monument in Fairview Park, Dublin. This monument remembers other IRA members who died during that time. In 1970, a bridge was built to Valentia Island and named the Maurice O'Neill Bridge, honoring the young farmer who was executed.
