Row over name on posthumous pardon referred to Taoiseach’s office

A row over the name used in the posthumous pardon of Harry Gleeson has been referred to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Harry Gleeson was executed in 1941 after being convicted of the murder of Mary McCarthy, but recent analysis of evidence proved that Mr Gleeson had a valid alibi for the murder.

A pardon was granted in April and signed by President Michael D Higgins before Christmas.

Mr Gleeson is the first person in Irish history to be awarded a posthumous pardon.

However, his grand-nephew Vincent Phelan has told the Irish Independent that the instrument carried the wrong name, as Harry was legally named Henry Gleeson and called “Harry” as a nickname.

Mr Phelan said: “This was prepared by the foremost legal minds in this land, and it is the first of its kind. What does it says for our country that they can’t get it right?

“This is a legal document, and a nickname appears on it. If you gave a guard a nickname instead of your real name that wouldn’t be good enough.

“If you appeared in court for a simple TV license charge and the wrong name appeared it would be thrown out.”

He earlier branded the mistake as “nothing short of a disgrace”.