Minster for Education and Kerry TD Norma Foley welcomes today’s cabinet decision to advise President Michael D. Higgins to grant Kerry native John Twiss a posthumous pardon 126 years after his execution.
John Twiss from Cordal, Castleisland was hanged in Cork County Gaol in 1895 for the murder of John Donovan.
Mr Donovan was a care-taker of an evicted farm at Glenlara near Newmarket in County Cork and John Twiss was hanged three weeks after his conviction.
His remains are buried on the grounds of University College Cork.
Following his execution, a coroner’s inquest was immediately convened. The question of police interference in the conviction of Mr Twiss was examined. The governor of the prison and the prison chaplain both stated they believed in Mr Twiss’ innocence.
The jury in the inquest stated: “In face of the solemn dying declaration made by the deceased before execution on the gallows at Cork jail this morning and the evidence on oath of the prison chaplain the medical officers and the Governor, we hereby express our belief in the prisoner’s innocence and consider this case was one in which the prerogative of mercy should have been exercised.”
Relatives of John Twiss have been campaigning for a presidential pardon for the last number of years in conjunction with Castleisland District Heritage group under the chairmanship of Johnnie Roche.
Recently, a review into the case of Mr Twiss carried out by Dr Niamh Howlin, Law Lecturer in UCD and expert in 19th Century trial law, concluded that all the evidence could not safely support a guilty verdict.
Today’s Cabinet decision now clears the way for President Higgins to grant John Twiss a posthumous pardon 126 years after his execution.
Minster Foley said: “It is clear from the expert review carried out by Dr Niamh Howlin that evidence could not support the view that John Twiss had committed the crime and that an innocent man was sentenced wrongly to death. I welcome today’s Cabinet decision which will begin to put right a clear miscarriage of justice while also providing much needed assurance and closure for the relatives of John Twiss.”
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