From Sligo to Stringybark: Australian Bushranger Edward "Ned" Kelly and the The Police Murders at Stringybark Creek in October 1878 Hardcover – September 21, 2025

The true story of the cold blooded murder by the infamous Australian Bushranger Edward "Ned" Kelly of three Irish born members of a Victorian Mounted Police Unit.in a place that would become the most written about Crime Scene in Australia. The events of that day, the 26th of October 1878, are still the subject of debate and division in Australia and indeed further afield. In this book the author, Michael O'Connor, looks indepth at the events leading up to the murders, the murders themselves and the Police operation to catch the criminal Kelly Gang. That police operation attracted much critisim and was the subject of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Police actions relative to their response to the "Kelly Outbreak" Over the years "Ned" Kelly has been elevated to to the status of hero and revered Australian icon. He is percieved as a saviour of his poor Irish neighbours and a challenger to the alleged corrupt police force and well to do squatter class of farmers. The author in this book strips away the myths surrounding "Ned" Kelly and the Kelly Gang and relies on facts as to what occured during that tulmoultous time The facts reveal the true nature of the Kelly Gang and exposes the brutal and cruel murders of Constable Thomas Lonigan , a native of Sligo/Mayo, Constable Michael Scanlan, a native of Fossa, Killarney, County Kerry and the heartless murder of Sergeant Michael Kennedy a native of Fore, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath. Only one policeman escaped the slaughter at Stringybark Creek and lived to tell the tale. That man was Constable Thomas Newmn McIntyre, a native of Knockbreda, Belfast. The author has trawled through Irish and Australian contemporary newspaper and magazine articles, Court records, shipping and prison records, statements of witnesses to the Kelly Gang robberies of banks and various records from The Victorian Police Museum, The State Library of Victoria and the Public Records Office of Victoria. The Irish Born Police Officers, Court Officials, Gang members and supporters of the Kelly Gang are identified and their story told in so far as it is known, The positions held by Irish born people in the Victorian Government is also related. This book covers the story of how three Irish born men were cruelly murdered by the son of an Irishman who had been transported for stock theft in Tipperary in 1840 A book that will be of interest to everyone from those who are aware of "Ned" Kelly to those reading about Australian History for the first time. An Irish history that is so closely woven into Australian history in an event where all the main participants were irish born or of Irish descent. This story covers the period from the arrest and transportation of John "Red" Kelly in Tipperary in 1840 to the Final Stand of the Kelly Gang at Glenrowan in 1880. In between is a story of death destruction hardship and treachery but also love, bravery, loss and grief. A journey from Sligo to Stringybark Read more