James Carey

James Carey (1845–1883) was a Fenian and informer most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park Killings. He has been called "the most militant minded republican you could possibly meet" by historian Dr Shane Kenna.

Carey was the son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer, who came from Celbridge to Dublin, where his son was born in James Street in 1845. He also became a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in the employment of Michael Meade, builder, Dublin. He then started business on his own account as a builder at Denzille Street, Dublin. In this venture he was successful; he became the leading spokesman of his trade and obtained several large building contracts.

During all this period Carey was engaged in an Irish nationalist conspiracy, but to outward appearance he was one of the rising men of Dublin. He was involved in religious and other societies, and at one time was spoken of as a possible lord mayor. In 1882 he was elected a town councillor.

About 1861 he had joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and soon after became treasurer. In 1881 he broke with the IRB and formed a new group which assumed the title of the Invincibles, and established their headquarters in Dublin. Carey took an oath as one of the leaders. The object of the Invincibles was to remove all "tyrants" from the country, and several attempts, but without success, were made to assassinate Earl Cowper and W. E. Forster.

No. 1, the secret head of the association, then gave orders to kill Thomas Henry Burke, the under-secretary to the lord-lieutenant. On May 6, 1882, nine of the conspirators proceeded to the Phoenix Park, where Carey, while sitting on a jaunting-car, pointed out Burke to the others, who at once attacked and killed him with knives, and at the same time also killed Lord Frederick Cavendish, the newly appointed chief secretary, who happened to be walking with Burke.

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