The fate of a young, polite, fair-haired man

Abstract

Published as part of the Life & Well being section; Mangion writes the story of Irish seaman Thomas McSweeney, who was executed in the 1837 on board HMS Rodney. McSweeney was commissioned to the British fleet under Captain Hyde Parker in 1835, at the age of 21 years. Being the only Roman Catholic and Irish on board, McSweeney was often harassed by his superior, Seargent James Allen as well as other crew. So much that it eventually compelled the young Irishman to assault Seargent Allen. With Seargent Allen s untimely passing, McSweeney was charged fully irrespective of the numerous testimonies of his good character and conduct. A grave miscarriage of justice according to Mangion and others from the local community. McSweeney was executed in the Grand Harbor of Malta, after which, at the request of the Maltese people, his remains were reverently kept at St Lawrence cemetery, Vittoriosa. Features some photographs.