Patrick Breslan (Brislaun)

Had 3 children; memoirs of Miles Byrne has story of murder

MEMOIRS OF MILES BYRNE

PAGE NO. 99

"We had a great number killed and wounded by this volley; still we kept our

ground and advanced through a large field to take advantage of a ditch (a

hedge) they lay between us and the enemy at our left flank and which brought us

within half musket shot of them. But this manoeuvre cost us dear. Whilst

crossing this field, our men were literally mowed down. My first cousin Pat

Bruslaun had a part of his thigh cut away with the grape shot, and on my other

side, I saw several I knew fall."

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PAGES NOS. 236 AND 237

"Here is one instance of the many, which may serve as an illustration how these

foul deeds were perpetrated by cowardly monsters, who never ventured to meet us

on the field of battle.

Hunter Gowan, justice of the peace, captain of a corps of yeomen cavalry,

knowing that Patrick Bruslaun, a near neighbour of his, and with whom he had

always lived on the most friendly terms, was confined to bed with a wound, rode

to Bruslaun's house, knocked at the door and asked Mrs. Bruslaun in the kindest

manner respecting her husband's health. "You see," said he, pointing to his

troups drawn up at a distance from the house, "I would not let my men approach,

lest they might do any injury. Conduct me to your husband's room, I want to

have a chat with poor Pat." She, not having the least suspicion of what was to

follow, ushered Gowan to her husband's bed-side. He put out his hand, and

after exchanging some words with poor Bruslaun, deliberately took out his

pistol and shot him through the heart. Turning round on his heel, he said to

the unfortunate woman, "you will now be saved the trouble of nursing your

damned popish rebel husband."

These details I had from Mrs. Bruslaun's own lips. And how many more of the

same kind could I not add to them, were it of any use now to look back to that

awful epoch of English Tyranny and slaughter in Ireland?-

Poor Bruslaun was not forty years of age; he left three children quite young.

He was, without exception, one of the bravest men that ever lived. He was

respected by every one who knew him. For my own part, I loved him from my

childhood like a brother. I had many first cousins, but to none of them was I

so attached as to him; his mother was my father's eldest sister.