James Fitzharris

Grave of James Fitzharris (Skin the Goat)

James Fitzharris nicknamed Skin-the-Goat (4 October 1843 – 7 September 1910) was a member of the Dublin, Ireland-based Invincibles.

Born at Ballybeg, Horetown, County Wexford, where his father was an employee at the Sinnott estate, he later became an Irish republican. Ultimately, he served as getaway driver during the assassination of Permanent Under Secretary Thomas Henry Burke and Lord Frederick Cavendish in Phoenix Park.

He was later tried and found not guilty of the murders but in a retrial in May 1883, was convicted of conspiracy and accessory to murder and sentenced to penal servitude for life. He was released from prison in 1899 and visited the United States until he was deported back to Ireland in 1900.[1]

He is mentioned in the Irish folk song, Monto (Take Her Up to Monto), written by George Desmond Hodnett and popularised by The Dubliners.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Moloney, Senan (2006). The Phoenix Murders: Conspiracy, Betrayal and Retribution. Dublin: Mercier Press. ISBN 978-1856355117.
  2. ↑ McNally, Frank (7 May 2011). "An Irishman's Diary". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 April 2016.

External links

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