August 7th , 1798
The examination by the secret committee of MacNeven, O’Connor, Neilson, Thomas Emmet, and Bond began in the House of Lords on August 7, 1798. This event took place during a critical period of Irish history, following the suppression of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, which was an uprising against British rule in Ireland.
The individuals mentioned were prominent members of the United Irishmen, an organization that sought to establish an independent Irish republic. The examinations were part of a broader effort by the British government to investigate the causes of the rebellion, the extent of the United Irishmen’s activities, and to identify any connections they might have had with foreign powers, particularly Revolutionary France.
The secret committee aimed to gather information and evidence against these leaders to justify the government’s actions and to frame the political narrative surrounding the rebellion. The examinations and subsequent trials of these leaders were highly significant, as they underscored the tensions between Ireland and Britain and the ongoing struggle for Irish independence.
