1
Dear Mrs. Skeffington Your poor husband's things are at the
Castle (that evil place) and in
of the Proost Martial — I am afraid
I can not go there with you tomorrow
because I am obliged to attend the
funeral of my old cousin Fletcher—Moore
of Manor Kilbride — but I will go
with you on Tuesday next and get
everything you want. I know Powerscourt
and it can be easily arranged. The more I hear of it the more atrocious
I find it — the act of a madman of
the most dangerous kind. My love to Flow and Betty
Yours sincerely
Francis Vane.
Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane (1861-1934) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946)
regarding the return of Francis' belongings. Vane writes that Francis' belongings
are at Dublin Castle and that they can collect them rom 'that evil place' on Thursday.
Before signing off he writes again of his disbelief at the course of events deeming
them the act of a 'madman of the most dangerous kind'.
Major Sir Francis Patrick Fletcher-Vane was a British officer in command of Portobello
Barracks. When he learned about the activities of Captain J.C.Bowen-Colthurst during
Easter Week he reported the matter to his superiors but, sensing a cover-up, he went
to London and reported it directly to Lord Kitchener and Maurice Bonham Carter, Private
Secretary to the Prime Minister. Although Bowen-Colthurst was court-martialled and
found guilty, Vane was 'retired' from the military for his actions.
Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), suffragette, nationalist, language teacher,
was the founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the
Irish Women Workers’ Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was
summarily executed on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food
to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before
she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't
until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.