Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, 1878-1916

Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was a civilian, and a pacifist. He was arrested at Portobello Bridge in Rathmines and detained in Portobello Barracks, Dublin. The following morning he was summarily shot at the behest of Captain J.C. Bowen-Colthurst, a member of a Co. Cork landed gentry family. Due mainly to the intervention of a conscientious senior officer, Major Sir Francis Vane, Bowen-Colthurst was court-martialled. He was found guilty but insane and detained in Broadmoor Criminal Asylum. A royal commission of enquiry subsequently awarded monetary damages to Francis's widow, Hanna, which she refused to accept.