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07 Sept 2025
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07 Sept 2025
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Farm worker Harry Gleeson who was wrongly convicted of murdering Moll Carthy in 1940 and hanged in 1941
Harry Gleeson was wrongly hanged for the killing of Moll McCarthy of Marlhill in 1940.
Without any evidence to go on, Harry was charged with her murder and his trial took place at the Central Criminal Court.
It was Harry that found the body of his neighbour Moll, and after reporting it to the police he found himself charged with her murder.
On February 27, 1941, the jury at the trial returned a guilty verdict, with "strong recommendation to mercy".
Despite this appeal Harry was hanged in Mountjoy on April 23, 1941, and buried in the prison grounds.
83 years after the wrongful framing and conviction of Harry Gleeson, his remains have now been identified in an unmarked grave at Mountjoy Prison.
Mr Gleeson's family have been campaigning for the return of his remains after he was pardoned by President Michael D Higgins in 2015, the first pardon to be awarded posthumously to someone hanged for murder.
This weekend the Department of Justice informed Mr Gleeson's grandnephew, Kevin Gleeson, that his remains had been positively identified in a burial area within the prison.
Arrangements for a long delayed homecoming and family funeral can now take place.
The family have long been hoping to see Mr Gleeson's remains returned for a reburial in his home place of Holycross, Co Tipperary.
Harry was hanged after the government had rejected a petition of 7,000 signatures pleading that he be saved from the gallows.
On April 1, 2015, the then Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced an official pardon for Harry Gleeson, which was followed by a posthumous pardon from President Higgins.
Before he was hanged Harry reiterated his innocence to his lawyer, the late Se McBride.
"The last thing I want to say is that I will pray tomorrow that whoever did it will be discovered, and that the whole thing will be like an open book. I rely on you then to clear my name. I have no confession to make, only that I didn’t do it," were his final words.
The family of Harry can at last bring him home to be buried in Tipperary in the knowledge that his name has been unequivocally cleared.
We remember Harry Gleeson and thank all those who have worked tirelessly to clear the name of a truly innocent man.
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