Death Penalty In Ireland.

Green Hornet

Not sure if this is the appropriate forum but when did Ireland stop using the death penalty?

Was just watching a programme on RTE about Paddy Morrissey (policeman) and his murder in 1985. The murderers were sentenced to death but it was commuted to life imprisonment.

I didn't realise it was still around in the 80's?

Tom Young

The death penalty was available after 1964, I believe it was available but in a limited fashion until 1990 - Criminal Justice Act and has been prohibited since 2002 in Ireland vis the Constitution.

Michael Manning was the last person hanged for the crime of murder in Ireland.[6] He was executed on 20 April 1954. The last person to be executed for a military offence was Charles Kerrins. He was hanged on 12 November 1944. The last two death sentences were issued on 3 December 1985, but were commuted.

Wikipedia.

McCrack

Exactly the death penalty was formally abolished in Ireland in 1990 by the Criminal Justice Act. Between 1964 and 1990 it was only imposed on those convicted of murdering a peace officer (prison officer, Army or Garda) in the course of their duty, treason and some crimes committed by Army personnel under Military law.

In theory the two men could of been executed by the State in 1986 but the Executive (government) choose not to and substituted the punishment to one of 40 years without any remission, both men are still alive and in prison.

Silas

Michael Manning was the last person hanged for the crime of murder in Ireland. He was executed on 20 April 1954. He was executed in Mountjoy Prison following conviction of murdering a woman who he walked home one night. It later emerged a year after his execution that it was in fact the deceased's neighbour (a down syndrome male) that had in fact murdered the woman thus making Michael Manning legally innocent of the crime.