Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 John Dillon

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This letter is from Irish Parliamentary Party leader and MP John Dillon (1851-1927) to Mabel Fitzgerald (née Washington McConnell) (1884-1958), wife of politician and intellectual Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947). Dillon had denounced the execution of the leaders in Westminster in a now famous speech on 11 May 1916 and in this letter he agrees that the treatments of prisoners in Richmond Barracks was bad but that after representations were made by him and others things had improved. He also mentions that in the future he may be able to do something to 'mitigate the harshness' of FitzGerald's sentence.Mabel was a former governess in London. She later vigorously canvassed her former acquaintances in London's liberal circles for support for Francis Sheehy Skeffington (1878 -1916) during his hunger strike in 1915. Both Mabel and Desmond would serve in the GPO garrison during Easter Week. Dillon would succeed John Redmond (1856-1918) as leader of the Home Rule party in 1918.

 University College Dublin Archives FitzGerald Papers, P80/1583/3 https://letters1916.ie/item/1355 English John Dillon 1916-05-24 Mabel FitzGerald Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 24 May 1916 My dear Madam I have received your letter of the 23 May. Your description of the treatment endured by the prisoners in Richmond Barracks is very horrible. And your account is I very much regret to say - confirmed by many other accounts which have reached me. Very strong representations have been made to the Government by myself and my colleagues in these matters — And I understand that the treatment at Richmond and other Dublin Barracks — has within the last few days been very greatly improved. Please find out how this matter now stands & I shall attend immediately to any points which are still matters of complaint. I shall keep in mind your husband's case — And later on I may be able to do something to null mitigate the harshness of his sentence. Yours Sincerely John Dillon John Dillon Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Sir John Maxwell, 8 May 1916. Mabel FitzGerald Letter from Margaret Pearse to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 July, 1916.Letter from Neans bean í Rathgaille (Nancy O'Rahilly) to Mabel FitzGerald, circa 26 May 1916.Letter from Nancy O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Burgess to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 November 1915Postcard from Mabel Fitzgerald to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 22 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 March 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 March 1916Letter to Mabel FitzGerald, 1916Letter from T.M. Healy to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Anna O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Brosnan to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Muldoon to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from T.J. Hanna to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Laurence Ginnell to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Julia Evans to Mabel FitzGerald, 13 May 1916Letter from Captain, Richmond Barracks to Mabel FitzGerald, 14 May 1916Letter from J.H.G. Stantin to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 May 1916Letter from R.F. Sergeant probably to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to Brigadier General, Richmond Barracks, 22 May 1916Letter from Nancy Campbell to Mabel FitzGerald, 23 May 1916Letter from George Bernard Shaw to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from W. Goodman to Mabel FitzGerald, 12 April 1916.Telegram from Superintendent of Police, Kingstown to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor of Richmond Barracks, 11 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to John Redmond, 27 May 1916.Letter from Annie F. to Mabel FitzGerald, 27 May 1916.Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916.Letter from John Redmond to Mabel FitzGerald, 29 May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Ní Shéaghda to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 May 1916.Letter from the Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916Letter from Harry Stockman to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916.Letter from R.C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from R. C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Mountjoy Prison, 2 June 1916.Letter from Máire Ní Catháin to Mabel FitzGerald, 3 June 1916.Letter from Austin Stack to Mabel FitzGerald, 4 June 1916.Letter from the Charles Arthur Munro, the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 June 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916.Letter from M.B. McDonough to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 15 Jult 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald 4 August, 1916.Letter from The Governor, Dartmoor Prison to Mabel FitzGerald, 18 August 1916.Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 November 1915Letter from Mabel FitzGerald [June 1916]Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 7 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 February 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Dartmoor Prison, 22 June 1916.