Patrick Dunphy

Murderer

2known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: Ireland
Location: Waterford County, Munster, Ireland
Date of birth: 1865
Age at first offence: 34
Characteristics: poisoner, parricide, to collect insurance money
Victim profile: H is two sons, Eddie, 9, and John, 11
Method of murder: Poisoning ( strychnine )
Date(s) of murder: September /December 1899
Years active: 1899
Date of arrest: —
Status: Executed
Executed by hanging in Waterford on April 10, 1900

Case Summary

Case details

Patrick Dunphy was a farmer convicted of the murder of his two sons, Eddie and John.

The offence

Patrick Dunphy murdered his two sons by poisoning them with strychnine. Eddie was nine years old, and John was eleven years old. Dunphy committed the crimes in order to claim a small amount of insurance money.

On the 27th September 1899, he poisoned one son with strychnine. On 17th December, he despatched the other in a similar fashion.

Sentencing

The execution took place on the 10th April 1900. It was by hanging in Waterford. Thomas Scott carried out the hanging.

Dunphy was thirty four years old at the time of his execution. It was the first execution in Waterford for 36 years.

There was a widespread belief that Dunphy would be reprieved because the execution coincided with a visit to the country by Queen Victoria. The Home Secretary refused reprieve because of the cold-blooded nature of the crime.

Outcome

Patrick Dunphy was executed by hanging in Waterford on April 10, 1900.

Other details

The crimes involved his sons Eddie and John, who were aged nine and eleven respectively.

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