The Queen v Patrick O'Donnell: The Man who shot the informer James Carey

by Sean O'cuirre�in

Patrick O’Donnell achieved the status of a national hero when he killed Ireland’s most infamous informer James Carey on board a steamship off the coast of South Africa in 1883. Why did the quiet-spoken labourer from the Donegal Gaeltacht shoot the leading Fenian in the Phoenix Park murders? And why did the President of the United States of America and the French writer Victor Hugo plead that Patrick O’Donnell not be hanged for his crime? Drawing extensively on court transcripts, official records from archives in Ireland, Britain, South Africa and America and many other sources, The Queen –v- Patrick O'Donnell reveals for the first time the full story behind one of the most compelling murder stories in Irish history, a thrilling tale of violence, courtroom drama, romance and political intrigue. Containing evidence from British Home Office files kept secret for 100 years, this account reveals shocking new information about the fate of Patrick O’Donnell.

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2021

Reviews

[Dan McCollum · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Queen v Patrick O'Donnell" is a solid recounting of the story of Patrick O'Donnell and his slaying of the informant James Carrey. Well written and accessible to a popular audience, it is one of the few works to really examine the trial which is often seen as the tragic epilogue to the Phoenix Park murders. My only complaint, it I would have asked for a more verbose conclusion which really dug into the historiography of the trial as well as the author's own thoughts and analysis. However, this is a minor concern. All in all, this is a solid work and a must-read for anyone looking to read more about the Phoenix Park Murders and their aftermath.