The village of Santry furnishes a remarkable instance of the power exercised by landed proprietors two hundred odd years ago. In 1738 Lord Santry forfeited his rank by the murder of one of his own servants and was in due course indicted, or convicted, and sentenced to death for the offence. Great influence was exerted to secure his pardon, but without effect, and when every means of intercession had failed, his uncle, Sir Compton Domvile, adopted an ingenious method of coercing the authorities. Sir Compton was at that time proprietor of Templeogue, from which Dublin was exclusively supplied with water. He threatened to cut off the supply from the city if the capital sentence were enforced against his nephew. The threat proved effective, and the prisoner's escape was arranged by connivance. Although a memorial to Lord Santry exists in the local graveyard, he actually died in Italy, and his uncle, who intervened so effectually on his behalf, succeeded to his estates.
The Irish Times, February 17th, 1930.