Book on murders by female killers is available in Kildare

A new book about Irish female killers features two Laois murders which were committed by women who were sentenced to death.

True Crime author Pat Doran included the stories of the two Laois women in his book ‘Lady Killers’ which explores 11 murders committed by women in Ireland spanning over half a century.

The murders in Laois occurred in 1902 and 1948. Both events involved female perpetrators who were subsequently sentenced to death for their actions. The first case concerned the murder of a husband, while the second was related to the killing of a sibling.

Lady Killers details the investigations and trials, providing a comprehensive look at each case and the individuals involved. The trials often featured dramatic courtroom scenes, and the book uses a narrative style to recount the events.

Author Pat Doran said the first murder was committed by Mary Daly from Clonbrock, Crettyard, along with her alleged boyfriend, Joseph Taylor. They murdered her husband John Daly on June 17, 1902. The crucial evidence in the case was provided by her 11-year old son and her nine-year old daughter. Mary Daly was the last woman to be executed in Tullamore Jail. She was hanged on January 9, 1903. Taylor was executed two days prior in Kilkenny Jail.

The second case was that of Frances Cox from Roskeen, Mountmellick. She was 30 years-old and unmarried. On Saturday, May 29, 1948 her 34 year-old brother died under suspicious circumstances. As his funeral left his home two days later, the hearse was stopped by the Gardaí. Then, in front of the shocked mourners, the coffin was taken from the hearse and placed behind a hurriedly erected screen. Behind the screen doctors removed Richard Cox’s internal organs. After several hours the coffin was lifted back into the hearse and the funeral proceeded.

On June 15, 1948, Frances Cox was arrested and charged with the wilful murder of her brother Richard. Following her trial she was sentenced to death for poisoning her brother with strychnine, the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. She spent fourteen years in Mountjoy Jail before being released. After her release she emigrated to Canada where she settled.

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The murders, along with nine others from Armagh, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Monaghan, Sligo and Wexford, which occurred between 1900 and 1950, are included in Doran’s book, Lady Killers. All of the murders had something in common. In each case the murderer was a woman, and they all were sentenced to death, however, some escaped the hangman’s noose, while others were not so fortunate.

Lady Killers is available for sale in All Books, Portlaoise. The Book Centre, Kilkenny. Seanchaí Books, Kildare, Barratt and Jones, Naas. Midland Books, Tullamore, as well as over forty bookshops nationwide and online.