24 January 1798: Dublin's Commission of Oyer and Terminer hear the first high profile treason case of 1798 on the 16th when Justices Baron Smith and Chamberlain try yeoman Patrick Finney for High Treason; `viz. compassing and imagining the death of the King, and adhering to his enemies'. Finney is represented by four of the best advocates in the country: United Irishmen Thomas Addis Emmet, Leonard McNally, Mathew Dowling and Curran.
The principal witness is a petty criminal, Jemmy O'Brien, whose testimony placing Finney at a seditious meeting in April 1797 is undermined. Curran, in one of his finest performances, tells the Commission: "I have blackened the character of O'Brien in every point of view; and, though he anticipated the attack . . . he could not procure one human being even base enough to depose that he was to be believed on his oath." Finney is bailed on £200 surety along with 15 of his co-accused on the 19th.
The United Irish seem determined to kill soldiers whenever the opportunity arises. On 18th, a body recovered from the Liffey is discovered to be that of a Fermanagh militia private, who, the Belfast News- letter ascertains, "has been missing more than a fortnight. It is supposed he was thrown in by force by some wicked ruffians." Another macabre discovery is made later that day near the Royal Barracks when an Armagh militiaman is found with fatal hammer wounds to the head. The killings counterpoint the bayoneting of Thompson on Strand Street the previous week by two off-duty King's County militiamen.
Government concerns about the security of southern Leinster are raised on 20th when John Hunter Gowan of Mount Nebo, Wexford's most "active" magistrate and earliest Orangeman, commits John Toole to the county gaol. Scores of other suspects living along Wicklow's borders with Carlow and Wexford are implicated by south Wicklow gelder and miner John Cooper. He claims Toole told him to swear an oath "against the King and Government, and to support French laws in this kingdom [and] that the people would soon all be united, and that the French would soon come".
Robert Ross registers his dismay on 22nd at the bold public displays of Dublin United Irishmen who, he claims, "grow every day more insolent in this city, and have, for the two last Sundays assembled in large bodies".
Brian Senior provides his Castle handlers with membership returns on 24th, claiming 6,505 United Irishmen in Kildare, 9,666 in Wicklow, 1,500 in Dublin city, 1,000 in Dublin county, 5,500 in Westmeath, 1,100 in Cork, 1,200 in Kilkenny and 60,000 in Munster. The accuracy of these figures is unknown but the evolution of rebel networks outside Ulster is confirmed. No returns are given for Queen's County, where martial law is declared on 23rd in the baronies of Slievemargy, Ballyadams, Stradbally, Portnahinch, Tinnahinch, Maryborough East, Maryborough West, Ossory and Cullenagh.