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Murder of Walter Burke & Timothy Neill

TipperaryBallinahinch (Tipperary)

Trying to find out information about the murder of Walter Burke and Timothy Neill on 17th April 1829. James Murphy was convicted of the murder of Neill and was executed. His sister, Mary Murphy and two brothers-in-law, John Dunsworth and Lawrence Lynch were later also found guilty of the murder of  Walter Burke. All were sentenced to death and dissection. Whilst Dunsworth and Lynch were executed on 17th March 1830, Mary Murphy was respited. She was transported to NSW Australia in 1831.

Three other members of the Murphy family were convicted of conspiracyto murder. They were John and Margaret Murphy (the parents) and Honore the younger sister.

If anyone has any information about this case I would love to hear from you. Mary Murphy is my great great great Grandmother and I would like to know more about the case especially why these men were murdered. 

IrelandXO member

6 replies

Hi Faye,

Thank you very much for your message.

Have you tried looking in newspaper archives to see if you can find any articles relating to the murders?

The National Library of Ireland have a large newspaper archives here is their website:

http://www.nli.ie/en/newspapers-publishing-in-ireland.aspx

You could also contact the county libraries to see what they have available:

Limerick

http://www.lcc.ie/Library/Local_Studies/Local_Studies_Collection/Newspapers.htm

http://www.lcc.ie/Contact_Us/

Tipperary

http://www.tipperarylibraries.ie/index.php/services/tipperary-studies/newspapers/

http://www.tipperarylibraries.ie/index.php/about-us/contact-us/

The website http://igp-web.com/tipperary/ have some newapapers available online

Also, you could check http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

Hi Emma

Thanks for the information and links to newspapers and libraries. I will try to see if any of them can help. I have just ordered a book by Frances Ann Corcoran another descendant of the family called "From Clonouty to Boorowa". I am hoping that it will also shed some more light on the family.

Faye

IrelandXO member

Hi Faye

Do you know what townland Walter Bourke was from? who were his parents? Was he from Upperchurch Co Tipperary? I have several Bourkes from Co Tipperary that I am currently researching.

 

Thanks

 

Dave Brown

david brown

Hi Faye

Do you know what townland Walter Bourke was from? who were his parents? Was he from Upperchurch Co Tipperary? I have several Bourkes from Co Tipperary that I am currently researching.

 

Thanks

 

Dave Brown

david brown

Hi Dave

I'm afraid I do not have any information about Walter Burke except that he was a Keeper for Thomas Cleary in 1829. He and another Keeper, Timothy Neal were left at Cleary's property to watch the Murphy family (my descendants) on 12th April 1829. My descendants were found guilty of their murders and were sentenced to death. My great x4 grandparents and their sone James Murphy were executed but the daughters, Mary and Honora were respited and transported to Australia. Mary was my 3xgreat grandmother. I know that the murders took place in Ballyanhinch but that's all I know about the men who were murdered.

Faye

IrelandXO member

Ballynahinch, Ballinahinch is in South Co Tipperary,

Between Cashel & Dundrum Vilage's

You will find Ballinahinch on Google Maps & Street view.

Regards

John.

oconnelljohn1

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