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William O'Riordan, W. Michael Ryan and David E. Sullivan, from left, speak out about the death penalty on the 209th anniversary of the hanging of Domenic Daley and James Halligan.

(Fred Contrada / The Republican)

NORTHAMPTON - The Irish never forget, and so it was that a small contingent of children of the Emerald Isle turned out Friday to commemorate the 209th anniversary of the hangings of Domenic Daley and James Halligan in Northampton.

Halligan, 27, and Daley, 34, were executed on June 3, 1806, after being tried and convicted for the murder of Marcus Lyon, a young farmer from Wilbraham. The state spent five months preparing its case. Daley and Halligan were assigned defense lawyers 48 hours before the trial. The jury deliberated only a few minutes before announcing its guilty finding.

When they were sentenced to be hanged, the presiding judge said their bodies were to be " dissected and anatomized." The two had left Ireland to flee oppression. Years after their execution, another man confessed to the murder on his death bed. Former Gov. Michael Dukakis formally exonerated them in 1984.

Though it is not known where exactly they were hanged, a memorial to Daley and Halligan has been placed on Village Hill, which had been known as Hospital Hill, the site of the former Northampton State Hospital. An estimated 15,000 people turned out to watch the hanging.

Former district attorney and judge W. Michael Ryan, current Northwestern DA David E. Sullivan and former probation officer William O'Riordan all turned out for the commemoration, as they have for years. Also present were Paul Hogan and several members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which he is president.

Ryan and Sullivan spoke out against the death penalty. Both mentioned Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was sentenced to death for the incident.

"The death penalty is not needed anymore," said Ryan "We can put dangerous people away."

Sullivan said the stance on the death penalty should pertain not only to the innocent, like Daley and Halligan, but to the guilty, like Tsarnaev.

"Executing him will not bring peace to us or anyone," Sullivan said. "We should say no to further executions."

The hangings of Daley and Halligan have become a touchstone for the Irish community in Massachusetts. Westfield writer Jim Curran wrote the play "They're Irish! They're Catholic!! They're Guilty!!!" based on the trial's transcript. Author Michael C. White wrote a fictionalized account of the trial and hanging called "The Garden of Martyrs."

Locally, Ryan, Sullivan and others have taken it upon themselves to commemorate the hanging and ensure that people don't forget Daley and Halligan.