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JEREMIAH GRANT WAS THE LAST MAN TO BE HANGED IN MARYBOROUGH, PORTLAOISE IN 1816. THIS IS HIS STORY.
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JEREMIAH WAS BORN IN MOYNE, CO.TIPPERARY. ORPHANED AT A YOUNG AGE, HE STARTED OUT AS A FARMER, WORKING THE LAND IN LOUGHMORE, CO. TIPPERARY UNDER A LEASE FROM A LANDLORD.
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HIS FARMING CAREER WAS CUT SHORT, WHEN THE LANDLORD EVICTED HIM. WITH NO OTHER OPTION, JEREMIAH TURNED TO A LIFE OF CRIME.
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JEREMIAH SPENT NUMEROUS STINTS IN GAOL AS A RESULT OF HORSE AND CATTLE STEALING. IN ALL, HE MADE THREE ESCAPES FROM PRISON. THE MOST FAMOUS ESCAPE WAS ONE FROM MARYBOROUGH IN PORTLAOISE DURING WHICH HE USED A SKELETON KEY THAT HAD BEEN SMUGGLED TO HIM IN A HERRING FISH.FROM THIS POINT ON, HE BECAME A BRIGAND AND A HIGHWAYMAN. HIS NAME WAS KNOWN AND FEARED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
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THIS CAREER WAS ALSO SHORT - LIVED HOWEVER. JEREMIAH WAS FINALLY CAUGHT IN 1816 AND TAKEN UNDER TIGHT SECURITY TO MARBOROUGH GAOL. THIS TIME, HIS LEGENDARY POWERS OF ESCAPE FAILED HIM.
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ON THE 13TH OF AUGUST, HIS EXECUTION TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF THE OLD JAIL OF MARYBOROUGH ACROSS THE ROAD FROM JEREMIAH GRANT BAR & EATERY. A VAST CROWD OF SPECTATORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY GATHERED TO VIEW HIS EXECUTION. HIS REMAINS WERE LAID TO REST IN THE GRAVEYARD ON HACKETS LANE, CURRENTLY KNOWS AS RAILWAY STREET.
DURING HIS ESCAPADES, JEREMIAH WAS KIND TO ANIMALS AND WOUNDED NO MAN.
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