1916 lives: Thomas Kent was a brother in arms

Executed in wake of 1916 after he and his brothers fought off police raid on their home. A fatal gun battle ensued, writes Meda Ryan

AFTER Thomas Kent was executed by a firing squad on May 9, 1916, in the Cork Military Detention Barracks (now Cork Prison) yard, he was buried in a shallow grave, which was apparently marked correctly.

This was only confirmed last year, following decades of speculation, including Dáil questioning. Since shortly after his execution, his family had sought that his body be brought “home” for re-interment, beside his brothers at the Castlelyons family grave: the well-kept grave, in the prison yard, was only available to family and friends on a once-a-year basis.