The Minister for Justice & Equality, Charlie Flanagan confirmed yesterday that the Government has agreed to advise President Michael D. Higgins to exercise his constitutional right to grant a pardon to Maolra Seoighe, who was wrongfully convicted and hanged in relation to the infamous Mám Trasna Murders of 1882.

This is the first time that a recommendation to award a Presidential Pardon relates to a case prior to the foundation of the State.

In August 1882, Maolra Seoighe was one of ten men from the local area who was arrested and charged with the murders of five members of the same family in Mám Trasna, on the Galway/Mayo border.

Seoighe/Joyce was one of three men hanged for the crimes.

Shortly before their executions two of the men admitted separately that they themselves were guilty but that Joyce was innocent.

This was deemed insufficient to postpone or revoke the execution and in December 1882, Joyce was hanged along with two others for the murders.

 The story has been highlighted in a TG4 film, Murdair Mhám Trasna (The Mam Trasna Murders), which is to be broadcast next Wednesday, 4th April at 9.30pm. The case is seen by experts as one of the most famous miscarriages of justice in British & Irish legal history.

The timely film is produced by Galway based production company ROSG for TG4, with support from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.