The boy who saw his father hanged

Julian's View • Published 12 Jan 2012 09:30 3 Comments

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Edward Scarlett's grave.

If I was to tell you that there was once a riot in Bellanaleck would you believe me? If I was to tell you that the riot in Bellanaleck left some unfinished business that led to 4 men being killed just up the road at Macken, would you think I was crazy?

Well that's exactly what did happen, but I will admit it was some time ago. In fact it all happened back in the 1820s. The incident has become known as "The Macken Fight", and unfortunately it has become virtually forgotten today. Mr Ivan Loane from Bellanaleck was a great friend of mine; we had several things in common, especially our love of history. Ivan died in 2010, and with him died a wealth of knowledge. Ivan was like an encyclopaedia when it came to history. I am thankful that I was lucky enough to learn some things from him before he died. Among his huge collection of historical items was a file on the Macken Fight. I researched through the file and found some very interesting pieces of information.

It all began in 1824. Many Catholics in Ireland were celebrating Catholic emancipation, even though it had yet to be granted at that stage. A group of Catholics from the Castlecoole area of Enniskillen had been drinking in a pub in Kinawley, likely celebrating emancipation. It would seem they had quite a skin full. Unlike the year 2012, there was no such thing of hiring a taxi to get home. The group had to walk home; this would mean they would have to pass through the Protestant village of Bellanaleck. As they made their way through Bellanaleck, a group of stone throwers started to appear from the ditches. Several stones were fired at the Castlecoole men, who didn't take kindly to the attack; the men grabbed one of the stone throwers up from the ditch and dragged him away. The stone throwers themselves feared the Catholic men would kill him; they then ran for help and gathered a huge party of men, who went out to face the Castlecoole men. The man captured was believed to be of the name William Scarlett, a relative of Edward Scarlett from Gortdonaghy, Bellanaleck. The men, likely Orangemen, were armed with pitchforks and chased away the Castlecoole men who let William Scarlett go. It is believed that one Catholic man was seriously injured in the riot. For several years afterwards the riot left a very nasty taste in the mouth, and it was always felt that someday things would come to a head again. On the 13th of July 1829, that is exactly what happened.

The 12th of July fell on a Sunday that year; therefore any parades would have to take place on Monday 13th of July. The problem in 1829 was that Dublin Castle had issued a proclamation that no parades would take place that year. This displeased many Orangemen, who made it clear that they would march anyway. A Catholic society known as Ribbonmen from Leitrim, Cavan, Longford and other areas came together on the Sunday; they then met up with others on the Monday at Molly Mountain, close to Derrylin on the Monday. They would ensure the Orangemen would not march and that the proclamation was enforced. This news reached Lord Enniskillen who was four miles away, he decided to go to Molly Mountain and calm the situation. Lord Enniskillen assured the Ribbonmen that the Orangemen had no intention of marching. It was rumoured that Lord Enniskillen during the negotiations, was in serious danger because a hillman attempted to attack him with a scythe, but he was stopped by another hillman who carried a pitchfork and struck the assailant ordering him not to touch Lord Enniskillen.

Meanwhile a few miles down the road at Gortdonaghy, Bellanaleck, an Orange Lodge had gathered to dine at the house of Edward Scarlett. The Lodge's Worshipful Master was Captain Sandy Nixon. Whilst having their meal they heard of the huge gathering of men at Derrylin who would likely confront them if they went out. The Orangemen decided to remain indoors until all was reported to be quiet. The trouble all began when two men by the name of Thompson who had been dining at Edward Scarlett's house were afraid to go home via Macken, in case they ran into the Ribbonmen along the way. It is stated that a large group of Orangemen decided to accompany them home. They were armed with 6 muskets, a few pistols and some ammunition. Unfortunately by this stage a party of men who had been at Derrylin were marching towards Macken and they were armed with pikes and pitchforks. It is stated that these men, who were likely Ribbonmen, had been told to occupy Macken hill and the fields surrounding the village. It is claimed that they were told to do this because they knew some Orangemen had to pass through Macken on their way home.

As the Orangemen made their way towards Macken, they were joined by fellow friends and supporters at Dromaine Bridge. It is known that Edward Scarlett himself along with George Price, John Glass and William Robinson were among them. As the men walked a couple of miles up the road reaching Macken, they were attacked by a large group of Ribbonmen. The fight itself was rather quick but bloody all the same. A Protestant man called Robert Mealey, who was a clerk in the local church, was said to try and make peace and stop the fight before it got physical. Needless to say Robert Mealey was the first man killed by being stabbed. The battle then claimed the lives of three other Protestant men, George Price, John Robinson and Edward Scarlett.

Panic spread among the Protestant population, as word broadened that several Protestants had been killed at Macken. Police and yeomanry were summoned to duty. Protestant volunteers once again gathered in Enniskillen just like they had during the Williamite wars. In fact for several days no supplies could even reach Enniskillen with all the commotion. There was a huge fear that a massive group of Ribbonmen had further gathered at Benaughlin Mountain and would soon make their way further into the heartland of County Fermanagh. Many magistrates too were summoned to Enniskillen, it seemed clear that there would be a full enquiry into the Macken affair.

On the 14th of July, nineteen, possibly twenty one, Catholics were arrested by a large military force for their part in the affair. Catholics in Fermanagh awaited the trials of the men with much anxiety. The trials went ahead beginning on March, 17th 1830 before Judge Jebb at Enniskillen Court House. There were 8 Orangemen on the jury along with John Maguire, George McDonald, Arthur Thompson and John Copeland. Francis McBrien was the only man acquitted; the remainder of the prisoners were sentenced. Three men, Thomas Montgomery, Patrick Montgomery and Patrick McManus were sentenced to be hanged, however a respite was given to the three. Later Hugh Keran was tried for the murder of Edward Scarlett, he was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, however he too was given respite, instead these men were sentenced to life in Botany Bay. Only one man was hanged for the affair, Ignatius Mc Manus. It is said that his small son watched him being hanged outside Enniskillen Gaol. It was claimed that the boy failed to grow in stature for the rest of his life after seeing his father hanged.

The four Orangemen who died were all buried at Cleenish Parish Church Graveyard in Bellanaleck. The small headstone of Edward Scarlett's grave can be still seen today.

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RamblingRoisin
1 post
Jan 12, 13:22
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It should be noted that Ignatius McManus was also granted a reprieve but it came too the priest delivering it arrived too late...Sort of an important fact given that you are writing about my Grandfather's Grandfather

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mcmanusoxley
1 post
Jan 16, 11:04
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It is sad about Ignatius. The above omission notwithstanding, this is a good account of the Macken Fight and the events leading up to it. I for one owe my very existence to the Macken Fight, as no doubt do many others here in New South Wales descended from Patrick McManus, and also from the Montgomerys, who were sent out here to Botany Bay as a result of the Macken Fight.

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rutledge7
1 post
Apr 21, 15:30
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there seems to have been a lot of executions by hanging in enniskillen at this time. one of my distant relatives john rutledge was also hung at enniskillen in july 1829 or 1830. it is said that he took a shot at a maguire over a land dispute but he missed. he had a daughter and they tried to flee but they were caught at cork. his wife was deceased and i am thinking that perhaps his daughter also watched him hang. does anyone know about this and where were these criminals buried? i lnow he was from tempo but can find no burial site.

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