The Parnell Commission was a judicial inquiry in the late 1880s into allegations of crimes by Irish parliamentarian Charles Stewart Parnell which resulted in his vindication. On 6 May 1882 two leading members of the British Government in Ireland, Chief Secretary for Ireland Lord Frederick Cavendish and the Permanent Under-Secretary for Ireland T.H. Burke were stabbed to death in Phoenix Park, Dublin by the Irish National Invincibles, in what was known as the Phoenix Park Murders.
In March 1887, The Times published a series of articles, "Parnellism and Crime", in which Home Rule League leaders were accused of being involved in murder and outrage during the land war. Eventually, Parnell's name was fully cleared and The Times paid a large sum of money by way of compensation after Parnell brought a libel action. His principal lawyer was Charles Russell, who later become Lord Chief Justice. The also examined at length the violent aspects of the Land War and the Plan of Campaign. This is interesting as we find 3 different testimonies in this Commission from people from Beagh; Edward Flanagan of Hollywood, Michael Hoarty of Laughil and James Ford of Tubber.
In March 1887, The Times published a series of articles, "Parnellism and Crime", in which Home Rule League leaders were accused of being involved in murder and outrage during the land war. Eventually, Parnell's name was fully cleared and The Times paid a large sum of money by way of compensation after Parnell brought a libel action. His principal lawyer was Charles Russell, who later become Lord Chief Justice. The also examined at length the violent aspects of the Land War and the Plan of Campaign. This is interesting as we find 3 different testimonies in this Commission from people from Beagh; Edward Flanagan of Hollywood, Michael Hoarty of Laughil and James Ford of Tubber.