Peter Barnes (Irish republican)
Peter Barnes (6 May 1907 – 7 February 1940) was born in
Sabotage campaign in England - the S-Plan
Barnes, along with James McCormick (also known as James Richards), were convicted of participating in the 1939 Coventry bombing, which was part of the IRA's sabotage campaign in England (the S-Plan). The Coventry bombing killed five people on 25 August 1939. Barnes was arrested on that date in London.[2] Although he and McCormick admitted constructing the bomb, which was intended to be used to destroy a power station, they claimed not to be involved in planting the bomb.[3] Another IRA man (Joseph "Joby" O'Sullivan) claimed that he planted the bomb and that Barnes and McCormick were innocent.[4]
Trial and execution
From the moment of his arrest until the moment of his hanging Peter Barnes protested his innocence. On the night before his execution, he wrote a letter to his sister stating: "I am an innocent man and as I have said before, it will be known yet that I am. The only thing that worries me now is the thought of my poor father and mother, but I know God will comfort them."
On 15 December 1939 the jury deliberated for 31 minutes before finding both Barnes and McCormick guilty of murder.
Reaction in Ireland and reburial
Their trial and execution resulted in a public outcry in Ireland against
Further reading
- Fairfield, Letitia. Trial of Peter Barnes and others: the I.R.A. Coventry explosion of 1939. William Hodge & Co., Ltd. 1953. ISBN 1-56169-184-4.
- "Ireland's Latest Martyrs, Peter Barnes and James McCormack 'Richards'". Irish World. 2 March 1940.
References
- ISBN 978 1 52678 642 5.
- ^ Dolan, Anne (n.d.). "Barnes, Peter". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ISBN 0-86278-836-6.
- ^ MacEoin, Uinseann (1997), The IRA in the twilight years 1923-1948, Argenta Publications, Dublin, pg 643, ISBN 0951117246
- ^ O'Meara, Jonathan (10 February 2005). "Remembering Barnes and McCormick - IRA Volunteers unjustly executed 65 years ago". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ISBN 0-312-29513-8(p. 38).
- ^ "Five Charged with Murder by Bomb". Irish Press. 12 December 1939.
- ^ "Bomb Murder Charge. Belfast Woman's Statement Read". Irish Press. 13 December 1939.
- ^ "Accused Man's Story in Bomb Murder Trial". Irish Press. 13 December 1939.
- ^ Kirby, pg 168.
- ^ Tarpey, Marie Veronica. The Role of Joseph McGarrity in the Struggle for Irish Independence. New York: St. John's University, 1969. (p. 331).
- ISBN 1-85918-310-7(p. 107).
- ^ "Barnes, Peter Joseph". DICTIONARY OF IRISH BIOGRAPHY. DIB. 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ "Remembering the Past: Re-interment of Barnes and McCormack". An Phoblacht. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ McIntyre (15 March 2016). "Westmeath Society Commemorate Barnes And McCormick In Mullingar". The Pensive Quill (15 March 2016). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
External links
- ""Ultimate Cause"". Time Magazine. 19 February 1940. Archived from the originalon 14 October 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- Irish Press news accounts of the Coventry Explosion trial at NationalArchives.ie