PLEASE NOTE: I have told this story for years. Recently I have received messages questioning the accuracy of some of the facts in this story. I have researched it and have to admit that there are some huge problems with the story as written.

After discovering the inaccuricies, I thought about taking the story off of the page. Then I thought some more about it. While it may not be exactly true, it is a plesant read. As a compromise, I have decided to point out what I know, and allow the readers who are so inclined, to do their own research.

The facts that I beleive are misstated are 1) Duffy was not "transported" to Australia. It also appears that McGee was not president of Canada.

Since posting the above, I have verified that the Federal Register contains the story as shown below. Recently, a visitor to the site, Cate Watson, pointed out that "Lyene & Ireland served as attorneys general in the colony of New South Wales not as attorneys general of Australia. The separate colonies did not become the Commonwealth of Australia until federation in 1901."

To make matters even more interesting, there is now a pub at the New York, New Your casino in Las Vegas called "Nine Fine Irishmen". There version of the story is here.

John

The Nine Convicts

During the young Ireland revolutions of 1848, nine young Irishman were captured, tried and convicted of treason against the Queen. The sentence was death. The presiding judge read out the names of the condemned men: Charels Duffy, Thomas Meagher, Patrick Donahue, Terence McManus, Richard O'Gorman, Morris Lyene, Michael Ireland, Thomas McGee, John Mitchell. Have you anything to say before the court passes sentence?

Thomas Meagher had been chosen to speak for them all. My Lord this is our first offence, but not our last, if you will be easy with us this once, we promise on our word as gentelmen to try to do better the next time, and next time sure we won't be fools enough to get caught. The indignant judge sentenced them to be hanged by the neck, but passionate protests from all over the world forced Queen Victoria to commute the sentence, the men were transported for life to the penal colony of the then savage Australia.

In 1871 a Sir Charles Duffy was elected Premier of the Australian state of Victoria. To her amazement Queen Victoria learned from her prime minister Disraeli that this was the same Charles Duffy who had been transported for treason 23 years before. She demanded the records of the eight other convicts and this is what she learned.

Thomas Meagher was Govenor of Montana, Patrick Donahue and Terrence McManus were Brigadier Generals in the U.S. Army, Richard O'Gorman was Govenor General of New Foundland, Morris Lyene was Attorney General of Australia to which office Michael Ireland succeeded. Thomas McGee was president of the Dominion of Canada and John Mitchell was a prominent New York politican whose son later became Mayor of New York City.

(Original research by Michael J. McCabe, Senior. Verified with the United States Congressional Record.)

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