The funeral arrangements for Harry Gleeson have been published on RIP.ie. Mr Gleeson from Galbertstown near Holycross was executed in Mountjoy prison in 1941 for a crime he did not commit and for which he protested his innocence until his death. His remains were buried in the prison grounds at the time of his death on 23rd April 1941. He had been convicted of the murder of a woman in New Inn in November 1940 – the victim Moll Carthy had been shot twice in the face and the neck.
A long campaign to clear Mr Gleeson’s name achieved it’s objective in 2015 when a Posthumous Pardon – the first ever in Ireland, was issued by President Higgins.
The surviving family members of the farmer who was in his early 40s when he died sought to have his remains released for a re-internment in the family plot in the grounds of St Mary’s Church in Holycross.
Mr Gleeson’s remains will arrive at Holycross Abbey at 1.30pm for Funeral Mass at 2pm on Sunday July 7th with burial afterwards in St Mary’s Cemetery Holycross. The Funeral Mass can also be viewed online at this link here.
There has been an outpouring of sympathy, condolences and praise for those that worked to restore Mr Gleeson’s good name and secure his remains for re-internment in his native Tipperary.
The full notice reads as follows –
“Re-interment of Henry (Harry) Gleeson, Galbertstown, Thurles, formerly Marlhill, New Inn, Co. Tipperary. The family of Henry (Harry) Gleeson rejoice in announcing the final homecoming of his remains to his native Galbertstown. Having languished in an unmarked grave in Mountjoy Prison for eighty-three years wrongly convicted and hanged for a murder in which he ”had neither hand act or part”. Harry’s remains can finally rest in peace having been declared an entirely innocent man. Betrayed by the very system that should have protected him it fell to others to restore his good name and bring him home.
Harry, may your innocent soul enjoy the happiness of Heaven knowing that truth and justice finally prevailed.
Arriving at Holycross Abbey at 1:30 pm for Funeral Mass at 2:00 pm on Sunday (July 7th). Burial afterwards in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Holycross.”
Some of the condolences reveal how much this Funeral service for an innocent man means to people near and far –
“Eternal rest to Harry. Credit to all those who fought so long and so hard to clear his name. I wonder how many would be as willing to speak out had we been contemporaries of Harry. How many injustices are being brushed under the carpet in the Ireland of today?”
“Shame on the conspirators of Church, State and the so-called Republican Movement for their disgraceful miscarriage of justice.”
“It is heart-warming to know that Harry Gleeson will now rest in peace beneath the sod of his native parish. Great credit is due to those people that have worked so diligently for so long to ensure that his innocence was established. Justice is done at last. Well done to all concerned.”
“Sincere sympathy to the Gleeson family Galbertstown , its brilliant to have injustice replaced by justice and great credit to Kevin Gleeson and family for their continuous fight to correct this atrocity may Harry’s innocent soul rest in peace”“Harry, from your bed of Heaven you will smile proudly this weekend on your native Holycross, and, on all the great people who so diligently worked over the decades to prove your innocence and restore your good name.
Our tears of joy will sprinkle your journey to St. Mary’s on Sunday.
All thoughts with your family.
Rest in blissful peace Harry.”
