In April 2018 the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins posthumously pardoned Maolra Seoighe (Myles Joyce) for his part in the infamous Maamtrasna Murders in 1882. Myles was one of three men hanged for the murders of members of the Joyce family in the West of Ireland in 1882.

The pardon was granted under Article 13.2 of the Irish Constitution on the advice of the Government. the Government’s advice was based on a report commissioned from Dr Niamh Howlin of the UCD Sutherland School of Law, who identified several problems with the way the trial had been conducted. This is the second posthumous pardon granted since the foundation of the state.

Read the President’s speech in full here.

The report of the trial is available here.

Applications are being accepted for the Student and Postdoctoral travel bursaries. These are designed to fund research trips made by graduate students and academics pursuing research into any area of Irish legal history. Full details and application forms can be found here.