Private James Barry was posted as a sentry at the barrack gate in Castlebar on the night of 13 May 1830. When darkness descended, he tied a long handkerchief to the trigger of his musket. He then tied the other end to the gate bolt, put the muzzle to his chest and stepped backwards. The shot passed through his heart and exited through his spine. The inquest found Barry suffered from temporary insanity occasioned by 'fatal love'.
Stepping through the historical archives and newspapers, one encounters countless individuals like Barry, frozen in a terrible and sad moment in time. In some instances, the reason they took their life is apparent; in most cases, we are left to speculate.
Suicide was a crime and a mortal sin. Before 1823, the law punished the suicide by mandating they be buried at a crossroads. Up to 1872, the law also helped itself to their property. The church exercised authority beyond the grave and sentenced the suicide to eternal damnation. Compassionate juries issued insanity verdicts at inquests to alter the legal position, leaving families with the shame of insanity rather than suicide. There is no apparent evidence of burials at crossroads in Mayo, so suicides were likely interred in Cillín with other disqualified souls.
The records show that suicide affected every rural, urban, and institutional community in Mayo. The records also evidence a myriad of causes and none at all. To the dark history of public institutions in the county, we can add a chapter on the many suicides within the austere grey walls.
William Kelly, a transport convict, was so distraught at the prospect of being separated from his family, that he killed himself in Castlebar Prison in August 1830. Convicted murderer, Michael McGuinness, hanged himself in the condemned cell the same week. Newport man, Thomas McNulty, hanged himself in Castlebar Asylum in September 1907. In 1898, Scotsman and Castlebar watchmaker, McKenzie, cut his throat in Castlebar Workhouse.
Outside the institutions, Westport House gardener and father of six, Matthew Morrison, took his life in September 1878. Morrison and his wife were having difficulties in their relationship. His daughter dissuaded him from taking his life, but shortly after, his wife Jane witnessed him doing so with his gun.
In September 1905, Constable Thomas Daly of Ballindine shot himself. In March 1913, Sergeant Mannix of Ballyvary RIC Barracks returned from church service, went upstairs to his bedroom, and took his life with his gun. His young daughter found him. Dr James J McGreal of Louisburgh took his life by ingesting poison in January 1914. Temporary insanity was found to be the cause in each of these cases. Young women betrayed by soldiers, married men or men generally also feature in the records. Margaret Keogh was betrayed by a soldier in 1830. Broken-hearted, she hanged herself in New Antrim Street. Another young girl, Dolan from Lightford, was heavily pregnant when her betrayer left her in 1816. She hanged herself.
Attempted suicide was also a crime. In December 1789, a young girl in Newport threw herself off the battlements of the bridge. Neal O'Donel's eldest son dived in and held her up until a boat arrived. In 1902, James Collins attempted to throw himself off a bridge in Castlebar. He was wrestled to the ground by a young man. Collins served time in Castlebar Prison for tearing his clothes at Belmullet Workhouse and had a history of insanity. The same week, Ellen Barton, wife of boxer Darkie Barton, also attempted to throw herself in the river. Charles Guthrie saved her. She was committed to the asylum.
Suicide ceased to be a crime in 1993. While the law and society have become more compassionate, suicide remains a significant societal problem. The number of deaths attributed to suicide or intentional self-harm in 2021, was 399, of which 15 were in Mayo. Suicide is as much a part of life today as it was 200 years ago and every day since. The why and the how of suicide have not changed, and suicide continues to be a lonely enterprise. The Samaritans offer a free and confidential helpline (116 123 ). (Image: Jim O'Connor 2023 ).
