What was the Mamstrassna Massacre?

Answer 1

Answer
It was the murders of John Joyce, his wife, his daughter, his mother, his son and another young boy, who were left for dead.
The murders, although quite shocking, were not as shocking as the trial itself where innocent men were convicted and hanged.
The crown prosecution at the time also helped to supress evidence that could have led to the men on trial being found innocent.
Some years later there was a confession to the murders but it came too late for the men who, because of a family dispute, had already been hanged.
The court system at the time had to be seen to be getting justice because of the nature of the crime.
If you wish to learn more about the Maamtrasna Murders then reading
Maamtrasna The Murders and The Mystery by Jarlath Waldron
or visiting these websites my offer more insite into the case
http://www.tourmakeady.com/maamtrasna.htm
http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/Ireland/Ireland-at-the-Bar.htm
http://www.hoganstand.com/general/identity/stories/kingedward.htm
Hope this helps to answer your question