The burning of Bridget Cleary
Bridget Cleary's husband Michael set her nightgown alight and poured lamp oil over her on 15 March 1895, according to IrishCentral.
Bridget Cleary was ill at home in March 1895. Wikipedia, drawing on the evidence given at the time, records that on 15 March her husband Michael called Father Ryan back to the house. Ryan saw that Bridget was alive though agitated, and Michael told the priest he had stopped giving her the doctor's prescribed medicine because he had no faith in it. Ryan gave Bridget communion and left. Neighbours and relatives came back to the house later that night.
The Irish Times says that on Friday 15 March Bridget said police stood at the window and asked Michael to leave her alone. He responded by dousing her with a chamber pot's contents and hurling some at the window.
IrishCentral states that on 15 March 1895 her husband lit her nightgown and splashed lamp oil on her.
"The evidence showed that on 15 March, Michael summoned a Father Ryan back to the Cleary household. Ryan found Bridget alive but agitated. Michael told the priest that he had not been giving his wife the medicine prescribed by the doctor because he had no faith in it. According to Ryan, "Cleary then said, 'People may have some remedy of their own that might do more good than doctor's medicine,' or something to that effect." Bridget was given communion, and Ryan departed. Later that night, neighbours and relatives returned to the Cleary house."
- Bridget Cleary, the last witch burned in Ireland, IrishCentral
- The story of the last 'witch' burned alive in Ireland, The Irish Times