In a landmark case, Henry 'Harry' Gleeson, who was wrongly convicted and executed for murder 83 years ago, has been posthumously pardoned and his remains returned to his family. Gleeson was charged with the murder of Moll McCarthy in County Tipperary in November 1940. Her family worked tirelessly for years to clear her name, and in 2015, the Irish government granted Gleeson a posthumous pardon, the first of its kind.
In January 2024, Gleeson's body was exhumed from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin and returned to his family. This action followed a government review of the case, driven by justice campaigners and Gleeson's family. The review revealed that crucial evidence from Gleeson's trial had been withheld, leading to his conviction and execution based on unconvincing circumstantial evidence.
Gleeson's nephew, Kevin Gleeson, described the day as long, emotional, but powerful. He emphasized that Harry was innocent and that his life was taken unjustly. Moll McCarthy's killer remains at large. Kevin acknowledged that clearing Harry's name was a major achievement, but it wasn't the end of his journey.
The process to exhume Harry's body took eight years and numerous meetings with the Department of Justice of the Republic of Ireland. Excavation of an area within Mountjoy Prison in January 2024 led to the recovery of the remains of 29 prisoners executed between 1923 and 1954. By March, some nine remains had been recovered, and the Gleeson family being informed that Harry could be one of them. .
Following DNA confirmation of Harry Gleeson's remains, the family prepared to take him home. The journey to his hometown of Galbertstown in County Tipperary began in July. Harry's niece Kitty, 90, was awaiting his return to the family home. The emotional homecoming marked the end of a long journey for the Gleeson family, finally closing a painful chapter in their history.
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