Two Kerry men who were wrongfully hanged for murder over 140 years ago have been honoured in Tralee.
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.
A memorial plaque was unveiled at the former site of Tralee Gaol, where cousins, Sylvester Poff and James Barrett were hanged on the 23rd January 1883.
Speaking at the unveiling, Mr Barrett’s great grand niece Anne Browne paid tribute to the men and to the Castleisland District Heritage group.
Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly unveiled the plaque in Ballymullen this afternoon.
Just five presidential posthumous pardons have been granted in Ireland, with Castleisland District Heritage involved in three of these.
Sean Kelly described the groups work as “unbelievable”.
Meanwhile, Chair of Castleisland District Heritage Johnnie Roche says the unveiling of the plaque to Syslvester Poff and James Barrett, draws the curtain on a long campaign in confirming the men’s innocence.
