Killing of Lizzie O'Neill

Lizzie O'Neill lived in the Liberties area of Dublin and worked as a prostitute near St Stephen's Green.[1][2] It is thought that she may originally have been from Carlow.[5] She worked in Pyms, a clothing shop, but after having a child out of wedlock became unemployed.[6] Frank Duff visited a house she was staying at while doing charitable work for the Legion of Mary.[6]

One of O'Neill's associates said that a man had paid her and told her that he had been robbed of eleven pounds and a silver cigarette case earlier that evening.[1] He was angry and said he was armed.[1] He asked the woman's help in finding the thief and indicated that a man in a nearby car was a friend who was a superintendent in the Garda Síochána and would round up prostitutes if the thief was not found.[1] Another woman said she saw O'Neill and a different lady with two men in a grey sports car outside the Shelbourne Hotel.[1]

Leonard's Corner and Upper Clanbrassil Street, looking towards Robert Emmet Bridge

The last sighting of O'Neill that evening was of her getting into a car with two men at Leonard's Corner on the South Circular Road, Portobello, Dublin.[2] She was found dead the next morning from a gunshot wound.[2] The car was traced to a Dr. Patrick Purcell of Blessington, County Wicklow who admitted being in Dublin on the evening in question with Garda Superintendent Leo Dillon.[1]

The trial began on 30 January 1926.[1] There was great interest partly due to the status of the accused.[2] The defence argued that two witnesses, a taxi driver and a Garda constable, were lying.[1] The jury acquitted the accused on the grounds that there was sufficient doubt.[1][2]

Purcell emigrated to England due to difficulties with people in Blessington after the acquittal.[1]

• List of unsolved murders
• Prostitution in the Republic of Ireland