JOURNAL OF THE COUNTY DONEGAL ·HISTORICAL SOCIETY have remembered the exploits of Arres-t and Torture his name-sake, Aodh iBan Q'Donnell, and his companion, Sle-amu~ Crone Gallagher, who, on being declared outlaws, found asylum ln Cruit more than a century before, and he, ·therefore, selected the island as a place of safety. I do not accept this as the chief reason for staying there as pretty well tbe entire Rosses, outside the immediate vicinity of Burtonport, was equally safe. The i'nis same O'Donnells, his traditional maternal ·ancestors, were related to more than one family in that part, and it accordingly looks as if he was combining ·business with pleasure -by including a visit to his mother's relatives Perhaps in view of the ~nbsequent events, it might have teen expedient tor him to drop out of the limelight in iK1lmacrennan at the time, and this could have been primarily responst-ble for his visit to the Rosses, where he would -escape the watchful eye of the authorities. The Infor.mer nm subversive activities did not pass unnoticed for long. He was informed upon by a neighbour named McGrath, who disclosed the prominent position he held in the United Irishmen. There was a family of that name living in the townland of Legnahorey at the ·time. Harkin states that t-he informer was one of Captain O'Donnell's own men. It is not improbalble that he was none other than J. McGrath, the Sub-Constable for the Barony of KUma- -crenan, wh0se name appears in the Grand Jury Presentments. There would have been nothing unusual in this as Baignel Harvey, the Wexford leader, was Barony Constable, and Miles Byrne, of Ballymanus, another Wexford principal, was ·in the yeomanry. Thousands of mil1tia-men and others holding Qov'emment office iwe-re mernlbers of the United Irishmen. 198 The news brought the Redcoats post haste to Goal, and there they took Manus in his ibed. He wSis immediately removed under escort to Letterkenny for interrogation. While he admitted that he was a member of the United Irishmen Organisation, he refused to disclose :any further information. His attitude arid determination not to betray his -comrades' must have enraged his captors for he was f ettered, neck and foot, and lodged in a damp and dismal cell. Here he was detained in solitary .confinement for three weeks and five days During that time neither his wife nor any member of his family was permitted to see him. He suffered greatly. He was only allowed one pint of water and a crust of bread each day. Several gangster methods were unsuccessfully tried to make him talk. Thumb screws were put on him which, bes!des causing much pain, resulted in the loss or' ;great quantities of blood. He eventually lost the nails of bcth thumbs. A -coffin was placed in his cell and famished rats that actually ate the thongs out of his boots were put in to ke~ him company. Th-ere were days when he could Scarcely move with weakness and pain, but it was all in vain, Manus remained silent. When torture and cruelty failed more subtle methods were adopted. He was next o:f?ered a King's p$rdon and Government protection, "s much gold as would cover a l$1°ge table, a pension of £ 100 a year a.nd the post of Tidf! Waiter (~_ otnce long -since abolished ibut CQtJ"esponding roughly to that of Preventive omcer in the modem ~venue Service). To all this Manu~ resolutely replied: "I have l)Ut one child, and I would not le~ve ,t 1n the mouth of any person tP $$Y to him when I am gone tnat he 1$-the son of a traitor. I can .011-11 <Jie once and I prefer death to <liiJgrace and dishonour." The child referred to was his son Eamon, wq.q' (Jled unmarried on the lst ~wt;>er. · t•J3,
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