1916 court martials and executions: Michael Mallin

Comdt Michael Mallin repudiated the claim he had set out to aid Britain's enemy, Germany, in his actions during Easter Week 1916.

His rebuttal directly addressed the charge as set out in the court martial that he had been involved in actions which had been for the “intention and for the purpose of assisting the enemy”.

Mallin told his court martial: “I indignantly repudiate any idea of assisting Germany.”

He denied having a commission in the Irish Citizen Army and said he had never been taken into the confidence of James Connolly.

He also claimed he was acting under the orders of Constance Markievicz when he led a group of 36 men into St Stephen’s Green on Easter Monday, 1916.

His statement about Germany is underlined in blue and underneath it is written the signature of the president of the court, Brig Gen Ernest Maconchy, but it clearly had no influence on his decision to pronounce the death sentence on Mallin.

Three witnesses were called at Mallin’s hearing. Constable John O’Connell of the Dublin Metropolitan Police said he had seen Mallin marching with the Irish Citizen Army and in the presence of Constance Markievicz and James Connolly. He had also seen in a newspaper that Mallin had been chief of staff of the Irish Citizen Army.

Constable Butler of the Dublin Metropolitan Police similarly identified Mallin’s involvement in the Irish Citizen Army.

The 3rd witness was Capt Henry De Courcy Wheeler who had taken the surrender of Patrick Pearse.

He confirmed that Mallin was the commandant of the garrison at the College of Surgeons and had surrendered to him.

The only witness produced in Mallin’s defence was Laurence Kettle, the chief engineer of Dublin Corporation’s electricity department and a brother of the poet and politician Tom Kettle, who died at the Battle of the Somme. Laurence Kettle was taken prisoner by the Irish Citizen Army on Easter Monday.

“The prisoner prevented my death by shooting. I was treated with every possible consideration and also I saw he did the same for any other prisoners who were brought in,” Kettle told the court martial.

Mallin’s court martial took place on May 5th. He was one of three executed leaders to be charged with a second offence of attempting to “cause disaffection among the civil population of His Majesty”.

He was found not guilty of the second charge.

The sentence of death was confirmed on May 6th by Gen John Maxwell. Mallin was executed on May 8th.

He left behind a pregnant wife and four children. His son Fr Michael Mallin (102) is still alive and is the only surviving child of an executed leader of the Easter Rising.