Author talk:Denis Caulfield Heron

Report on death

Nation Vol. XXXIX No. 17; Dublin, Saturday, 23 April, 1881 (p.1)

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Mr. Denis Caulfield Heron, Q.C., one of the most prominent members of the Irish Bar, died on Friday week in Galway. His death was singularly sudden and unexpected. He had been fishing on the river early on the Friday morning, when an attack of the apoplexy overtook him, and he passed away at four o'clock in the afternoon. Sergeant Heron, who was a native of Newry, first became known by the bold fight he made years ago against Protestant exclusiveness in Trinity College. He won a scholarship there, but the reward he had earned was denied him because he was Catholic. In the Queen's Bench and before Visitors he fought his case, only to lose on religious grounds. As a solatium, however, he was appointed Professor of Jurisprudence in the Queen's College, Galway. In 1848 he was called to the Bar, in 1860 was made a Q.C., and last year he was appointed Sergeant-at-Law. At one time he took an active interest in political life, and he was known in Parliament as member for Tipperary from 1868 to 1874. In the late State trials he appeared on behalf of the Crown against Mr. Parnell and his fellow-traversers. Among his writings may be mentioned his "History of Jurisprudence," and as a member of the Statistical Society he wrote some things of a valuable and patriotic character.