Burial place of Manchester Martyrs located

The burial place of three Irishmen, known as the Manchester Martyrs, who were executed by Britain in 1867 has been located in…

The burial place of three Irishmen, known as the Manchester Martyrs, who were executed by Britain in 1867 has been located in a Manchester crematorium.

The men were executed following the death of a policeman during an escape from British custody of two Fenian leaders that same year.

It is widely accepted that none of the executed men fired the fatal shot that killed a Sergeant Brett during the escape of Col. Thomas Kelly and his assistant, Capt. Deasy from a prison van in Manchester.

Captain Michael O'Brien, William Philip Allen and Michael Larkin pleaded not guilty to the charges but were convicted and the three were hanged outside Salford's New Bailey Prison on the 23rd of November 1867.

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The song 'God Save Ireland', was written by T D Sullivan to commemorate their deaths and became the unofficial Irish national anthem until Amhrán na bhFiann.

The men's remains have been located by historians at the Blakely Crematorium in Manchester having being reburied with others taken from the Strangeways prison graveyard.

The National Graves Association is planning to honour them at their resting place.