Brian Dillon
| Brian Dillon | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 1830 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 17 August 1872 Cork, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Bryan Dillon |
| Movement | Irish Republican Brotherhood |
Brian Dillon (1830 – 17 August 1872) was an Irish Republican leader and a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. His name is also spelled Bryan Dillon. He was a central figure in the Cork Fenian movement. He was arrested in 1865 for felony treason, found guilty and imprisoned. Since his health was poor, he was given amnesty after four and a half years in prison. He returned to Cork where he received an enthusiastic welcome.
Dillon was born in Glanmire in 1830. As a child he was in a serious accident- a heavy fall- which resulted in curvature of the spine, and general ill health.
His family moved to a house near the corner of Old Youghal Road and Ballyhooly Road.
He attended the School of Art for several years and became quite talented with brush and pencil.
He lived through the famine and became an ardent nationalist.
Dillon was appointed a Fenian leader in Cork by James Stephens, the head of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Under Dillon's supervision the Fenian recruits drilled on the Fair Field and at Rathpeacon and were hoping for a rebellion in 1865 when the Fenians were at their strongest. He often associated with other Cork Fenians such as John J. Geary, James Mountaine and John Lynch. Dillon used to chair the Fenian meetings at Geary's pub.
In September 1865, police arrested Fenian leaders James Stephens and O'Donovan Rossa in Dublin, and Brian Dillon in Cork. The police searched Dillon's home and found a pair of field glasses, some drawings, and some incriminating letters sewn into the mattress of his bed.
Dillon was remanded in Cork City Gaol before his trial.
On the 18th December, Dillon and another Cork Fenian, John Lynch, were tried together in the dock in Cork Courthouse by Judge Keogh. The charges were primarily based on information provided by an informer named John Warner, an ex-military pensioner.Isaac Butt and Mr Waters represented the defendants. The charges were "in one indictment with having conspired to depose the Queen, &c., and with illegally drilling and being drilled in furtherance of that design". Both were found guilty, based primarily on the testimony of informants although John Warner's account was very weak and unsatisfactory under cross examination. The defendants were sentenced to ten years penal servitude.
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