The 18th century had its own crop of rapparees or highwaymen.  At the Summer Assizes of 1735 one Macklin, a famous horse-thief ‘went down the nine steps’, as was said in Armagh of those on whom the death penalty was passed.  These led to the condemned cells below the Sessions House in Market Street.  Hanging on Gallows Hill was the fate of thieves, no matter what they had stolen.  Macklin had notified friends and kin to attend.  A great crowd assembled, fiercesomely rattling clubs and staves but the military kept order.  Before his hanging, questioned about his many exploits he openly admitted to every offence short of murder and gave many witty answers.  He swung nevertheless.

Cál Mór Caraher was Macklin’s contemporary.  He began as keeper of the Dorsey Pound, an enclosure within the northern rampart of the famous Dorsey entrenchment just outside Cullyhanna (which I visited with my son just last Saturday!)  Cattle were in the habit of disappearing mysteriously from the pound and eventually Big Charley – by which name in English he was also known – was caught in the act of killing a cow.  Dismissed from his post he became a general robber and murderer.  He was known for his brutality requiring new recruits to his gang to be ‘blooded’ by committing murder themselves.  Eventually he was taken prisoner and brought to Armagh, where he was sentenced, convicted, hanged, beheaded and quartered.  One of his quarters was displayed at Ballsmills and others at other places of his notorious crimes. 

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