Overview

Bridget Barrett was the victim in murder case that attracted great notoriety at the time, and was "the subject of the first Coroner

Coroner

A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

's inquest held in Connemara

Connemara

Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...

 proper and led to two men being charged with wilful murder on the high seas."

Barrett had a sexual relationship with James Mannion of Letterard

Letterard

Letterard is a townland located in the parish of Moyrus or Carna, Connemara on the West Coast of the Republic of Ireland. It is located in County Galway and has an overall population of 103 which is relatively big when compared to other townlands in the area. To the west of Letterard is Bertrabhoy...

, which resulted in the birth of their child in July 1845. His aunt put pressure upon him to fulfill his promise of marriage to Barrett, and so Mannion arranged with Barrett on the evening of 10 September, after which they would proceed to Roundstone

Roundstone

Roundstone may refer to:*Roundstone, County Galway, a village in the Republic of Ireland.*Roundstone, West Sussex, a village in England.*Roundstone Music, an English rock band....

 to get married. The couple met a man named Thomas Cosgriff from where they took a boat from a place called Ruananule, all the time observed by a witness, until they were lost to sight.

The body of Bridget Barrett was washed up on the shore at Roundstone on 16 November 1845. Her hands and feet were missing. It was later found that she had been weighted down with an anchor, decomposition separating the body parts. Mannion had been seen in Galway

Galway

Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...

 some days later buying clothes; he was met on his way home by Barrett's sister, who obtained no good answer as to the whereabouts of her sister.

James Mannion was aged twenty-two when convicted of murder on 5 August 1846, his death sentence reduced to transportation for life. He died in prison, awaiting transportation, on 30 September 1847.

Thomas Cosgriff was later found guilty of murder, and transported to Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 on the ship Bangalore. The Convict Resister records that an order was given for his discharge on 4 June 1854.

See also

• Ciáran Bairéad
  Ciáran Bairéad
  Ciáran Bairéad, Irish folklore expert, scribe and scholar, fl. 1950s - 1970s.Bairéad was a native of County Galway and a graduate of Galway University. He worked with the Irish Folklore Commission and An Fáinne, the later organisation been established to promote the Irish language, its members...
  
  
• Thomás Bairéad
  Thomás Bairéad
  Thomás Bairéad, Bishop of Annaghdown, died c. 1485.Bairéad obtained a papal provision to the see of Annaghdown on 17 April 1458 despite the see been already occupied by Donatus Ó Muireadhaigh, who had held office as both Archbishop of Tuam and bishop of Annaghdown since 1450.Despite crown support,...
  
  
• Tomás Bairéad
  Tomás Bairéad
  Tomás Bairéad was an Irish author and nationalist.-Biography:Bairéad was born near Moycullen, County Galway to a small farmer. He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and soon after became an IRA volunteer. His first recorded writings were with The Galway Express in 1918...
  
  
• Coleman Barrett
  Coleman Barrett
  Coleman Barrett , nicknamed Coley, is an Irish professional boxer who holds the Irish heavyweight title.- Background :Coleman is the cousin of pro light welterweight Francie Barrett...
  
  
• Francie Barrett
• Slim Barrett
  Slim Barrett
  Slim Barrett is an Irish jewellery designer and artist, born in the 1960s.Barrett moved to London from Athenry in 1983 having studied Fine Art in Galway, and has since produced works of contemporary design, with works commissioned by Chanel, Ungaro, Versace, Montana, Lagerfeld, and Galliano.Among...