Two more executions followed those of William Ryan and Andrew Dea on February 7th (see above) as a result of the Limerick special commission of January, 1848. The catalyst, as ever, was agricultural debt, plus resentment over the problems of Irelands position in the then United Kingdom
John Quaine, 40, was in rent arrears on his farm at Rathard, near Limerick town. A land agent, Ralph Hill, was sent to seize part of Quaines corn and was shot dead. One of the farmers labourers, James Skeahan, 25, was identified as the killer.
Quaine, who had been talking about murdering the land agent, and Skeahan were hanged on Tuesday, February 22nd, 1848, in front of Limerick Prison.