James Carey
Encyclopedia
James Carey was a Fenian
and informer most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park murders
.
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Carey was son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer
, who came from Celbridge
, in Kildare
, to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. He also was a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in the employment of Michael Meade, builder, Dublin. He then started business on his own account as a builder at Denzille Street, Dublin. In this venture he was successful; he became the leading spokesman of his trade and obtained several large building contracts.
During all this period Carey was engaged in a nationalist conspiracy, but to outward appearance he was one of the rising men of Dublin. Every one believed in his piety and public spirit; there was hardly a society of the popular or religious kind of which he did not become a member, and at one time he was spoken of as a possible lord mayor
. In 1882 he was elected a town councillor of Dublin, not on political grounds, but, as he himself said, solely for the good of the working men of the city.
About 1861 he had joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood
, and soon after became treasurer. In 1881 he broke with the IRB and formed a new group who assumed the title of the Invincibles
, and established their headquarters in Dublin, and Carey took an oath as one of the leaders. The object of the Invincibles was to remove all "tyrants" from the country, and several attempts, but without success, were made to assassinate Earl Cowper
and W. E. Forster.
No. 1, the secret head of the association, then gave orders to kill Thomas Henry Burke
, the under-secretary to the lord-lieutenant, and on May 6, 1882, nine of the conspirators proceeded to the Phoenix Park
, where Carey, while sitting on a jaunting-car, pointed out Burke to the others, who at once attacked and killed him with knives, and at the same time also despatched Lord Frederick Cavendish
, the newly appointed chief secretary
, who happened to be walking with Burke.
For a long time no clue could be found to the perpetrators of the act; but on January 13, 1883, Carey was arrested and, with 16 other people, charged with a conspiracy
to murder public officials. When arrested he was erecting a mortuary chapel in the South Dublin Union, and the work was then carried on by his brother Peter Carey. On February 13, Carey turned queen's evidence
, betrayed the complete details of the Invincibles and of the murders in the Phœnix Park. His evidence - together with that of another informer, the getaway driver Michael Kavanagh - resulted in the execution by hanging
of five of his associates.
His life being in great danger, he was secretly, with his wife and family, put on board the Kinfauns Castle, bound for the Cape
, and sailed on July 6 under the name of Power. On board the same ship was Patrick O'Donnell
, a bricklayer. He became friendly with Carey, without knowing who he was. After stopping off in Cape Town
, he was informed by chance of the real identity of Carey. He went with his victim on board the Melrose in the voyage from Cape Town to Natal
, and when the vessel was 12 miles off Cape Vaccas, on July 29, 1883, using a pistol he had in his luggage, shot Carey dead.
O'Donnell was brought to England and tried for murder, and being found guilty, was executed at Newgate
on December 17.
Carey married in 1865 Margaret m'Kenny, who, with several children, survived him.
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
and informer most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park murders
Phoenix Park Murders
The Phoenix Park Murders were the fatal stabbings on 6 May 1882 in the Phoenix Park in Dublin of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. Cavendish was the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Burke was the Permanent Undersecretary, the most senior Irish civil servant...
.
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
, who came from Celbridge
Celbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
, in Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. He also was a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in the employment of Michael Meade, builder, Dublin. He then started business on his own account as a builder at Denzille Street, Dublin. In this venture he was successful; he became the leading spokesman of his trade and obtained several large building contracts.
During all this period Carey was engaged in a nationalist conspiracy, but to outward appearance he was one of the rising men of Dublin. Every one believed in his piety and public spirit; there was hardly a society of the popular or religious kind of which he did not become a member, and at one time he was spoken of as a possible lord mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
. In 1882 he was elected a town councillor of Dublin, not on political grounds, but, as he himself said, solely for the good of the working men of the city.
About 1861 he had joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
, and soon after became treasurer. In 1881 he broke with the IRB and formed a new group who assumed the title of the Invincibles
Irish National Invincibles
The Irish National Invincibles, usually known as "The Invincibles" were a radical splinter group of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and leading representatives of the Land League movement, both of Ireland and Britain...
, and established their headquarters in Dublin, and Carey took an oath as one of the leaders. The object of the Invincibles was to remove all "tyrants" from the country, and several attempts, but without success, were made to assassinate Earl Cowper
Earl Cowper
Earl Cowper was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 by George I for William Cowper, 1st Baron Cowper, his first Lord Chancellor, with remainder in default of male issue of his own to his younger brother, Spencer Cowper...
and W. E. Forster.
No. 1, the secret head of the association, then gave orders to kill Thomas Henry Burke
Thomas Henry Burke (Irish politician)
Thomas Henry Burke was Permanent Under Secretary at the Irish Office for many years before being killed during the Phoenix Park Murders on Saturday 6 May 1882. The killing was carried out by an Irish republican organisation called the Irish National Invincibles...
, the under-secretary to the lord-lieutenant, and on May 6, 1882, nine of the conspirators proceeded to the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
, where Carey, while sitting on a jaunting-car, pointed out Burke to the others, who at once attacked and killed him with knives, and at the same time also despatched Lord Frederick Cavendish
Lord Frederick Cavendish
Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish was an English Liberal politician and protégé of the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone...
, the newly appointed chief secretary
Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary is the title of a senior civil servant in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and, historically, in the British Empire. Prior to the dissolution of the colonies, the Chief Secretary was the second most important official in a colony of the British Empire after the...
, who happened to be walking with Burke.
For a long time no clue could be found to the perpetrators of the act; but on January 13, 1883, Carey was arrested and, with 16 other people, charged with a conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to murder public officials. When arrested he was erecting a mortuary chapel in the South Dublin Union, and the work was then carried on by his brother Peter Carey. On February 13, Carey turned queen's evidence
Turn state's evidence
To turn state's evidence is when an accused or convicted criminal testifies as a witness for the state against his associates or accomplices. Turning state's evidence is occasionally a result of a change of heart or feelings of guilt, but more often is done in response to a generous offer from the...
, betrayed the complete details of the Invincibles and of the murders in the Phœnix Park. His evidence - together with that of another informer, the getaway driver Michael Kavanagh - resulted in the execution by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
of five of his associates.
His life being in great danger, he was secretly, with his wife and family, put on board the Kinfauns Castle, bound for the Cape
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, and sailed on July 6 under the name of Power. On board the same ship was Patrick O'Donnell
Patrick O'Donnell (Invincible)
Pádraig "Mhícheál Airt" Ó Domhnaill or Patrick O'Donnell, was an Irish republican who was responsible for killing James Carey, leader of the group that carried out the Phoenix Park Murders in Dublin, Ireland.- The Phoenix Park murders and Carey's death :On 6 May 1882, the most senior Irish civil...
, a bricklayer. He became friendly with Carey, without knowing who he was. After stopping off in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, he was informed by chance of the real identity of Carey. He went with his victim on board the Melrose in the voyage from Cape Town to Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
, and when the vessel was 12 miles off Cape Vaccas, on July 29, 1883, using a pistol he had in his luggage, shot Carey dead.
O'Donnell was brought to England and tried for murder, and being found guilty, was executed at Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
on December 17.
Carey married in 1865 Margaret m'Kenny, who, with several children, survived him.