A memorial plaque will be unveiled in Tralee today in honour of who were two Kerry men who were wrongfully hanged for murder over 140 years ago.
38-year-old Sylvester Poff and 24-year-old James Barrett were wrongfully convicted of murdering Thomas Browne while he worked on his farm in Dromulton, near Scartaglin on 3rd October 1882.
In 2024, the then President Michael D Higgins signed pardon orders for both men.
After being wrongfully convicted of murdering Thomas Browne in 1882, Sylvester Poff and James Barrett were hanged in Tralee Gaol on the 23rd January 1883, despite petitions for mercy to the Lord Lieutenant.
Castleisland District Heritage brought the cases to public attention and worked to obtain the pardons.
On October 30th 2024, the then President Michael D Higgins signed pardon orders for both men, following a Government recommended after 19th century trial law expert Dr Niamh Howlin independently reviewed the case.
Today, a plaque will be unveiled by Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly to honour both Sylvester Poff and James Barrett at the former Tralee Jail, at Kelliher’s Electrical, Ballymullen Tralee at 2pm.
Castleisland District Heritage began work to exonerate and honour the men in 2019 and today's unveiling forms the final part of their work to exonerate and honour the memory of Poff and Barrett.
