Sir,

When does fiction become accepted as fact, unless challenged? Perhaps within only a few months! The demise of The Rt Hon Judge William Nicholas Keogh, MP and Attorney General, is a case in point - one in which the myth has held sway for 184 years.

Born at Galway on December 7th, 1817, he was called to the Irish Bar in 1840. He became MP for Athlone in 1847, Queen’s Council 1849, Solicitor-General 1852, Attorney-General 1855, Justice of Common Pleas 1856. He presided over the trials of the Fenians with Mr Justice Fitzgerald in 1865. Awarded Doctor of Laws honoris causa by Dublin University in 1867, he presided over the celebrated Galway county election petition of 1872 which resulted in J.P. Nolan being unseated, and three Roman Catholic bishops and 31 priests being reported to the House as guilty of undue influence and intimidation!

At this point it should be stated that Galway and its surrounding counties were those of Judge Keogh’s ancestors and family, and he was until his death a staunch and devoted Catholic, as were his kinfolk for generations before him and his heirs and those of his family to this day.

Now we come to the fiction which obscures the facts. In 1878, Keogh was a sick man. That autumn he travelled to London to consult a specialist, who informed him that his liver was hard, his heart was enlarged, and he was in a stressful state, and advised him to take a holiday cure on the continent of Europe. Judge Keogh took the consultant’s advice and went to Germany, where he had friends. He died there on September 30th,1878 at 17.00 hours.

Here in Ireland, the newspaper owners, who were against Judge Keogh, reported that he had committed suicide by cutting his throat at Bingen on the Rhine. This piece of political history surrounding the place and cause of Keogh’s death has been perpetuated until this day. Having teased out the facts, the writer has discovered that the judge actually died receiving the last rites at Bonn, where he is buried. No mention of suicide.

Judge Keogh and his wife purchased a vault at Glasnevin when their daughter died in 1871, aged 25 years, and intended that they would be laid to rest there in turn - indeed Keogh made it known in his will that he wanted to be interred in the vault. But because of the hatred that some in Ireland stored for Keogh, his family feared that if his remains were returned to Ireland his coffin would be tipped into the Liffey! Judge Keogh’s widow, with his family’s agreement, purchased a plot at Bonn and a landmark monument is placed at his resting place. It is unusual for Bonn because it is of a Celtic design and bears the inscription: “To the Honourable William Keogh. His friends and all who admire him.” I have received an official death certificate from Bonn verifying the fact that he died there.

If any reader has other information regarding Judge Keogh, his family or other Keogh families, I would be happy to exchange, learn or assist with whatever possible.