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THE PRESBYTERY, DOCKHEAD, BERMONDSEY, S.E. June 26.1916 Dear. Mrs.Gavan Duffy
I don't wish at such
a moment to trouble Gavan
with any fresh anxiety, indeed
I have a semple in bothering
you, but the need is very
pressing — I promised Sir Roger
to be at Brixton each Evg this
week when he returned — and
I am wondering now, if when
he comes back, he may not
be so worn out, it would
worry him to think he ought
to see me. If only you or
Gavan could suggest to him
to ask to have himself entered
as a Catholic on the Creed
Register and also to ask
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that I might be allowed
to see him alone on
purely spiritual matters
all would be well. And
I am sure as you are that
nothing can help him to
bear the strain of this
terrible time, except the grace
& peace that will come from
being reconciled to the
Church. I am writing to
Mr. Wall, to ask him to
support the application
when it is sent in. It
was a great joy to see you
& Gavan yesterday — and I
am praying & all our people
& children are praying for
a successful issue. With a blessing
Next section written sideways across edge of page to you & Gavan & the children
E.F.Murnane
Letter from Father Edward F. Murnane to Margaret Gavan Duffy (1876-1967). Murnane
hopes that either George Gavan Duffy (1882-1951) or Margaret herself will suggest
to Sir Roger Casement (1864-1916) that he has himself entered as a Catholic on the
Creed Register. Murnane also asks to be allowed to see Casement alone on purely spiritual
matters. George Gavan Duffy was acting as solicitor to Casement during his trial for
treason. Casement had been arrested in Kerry in April 1916 during a failed landing
of German arms for use in the Easter Rising. He was hanged in August 1916. Gavan Duffy
was later one of the Irish signatories of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921.