New book marks centenary of Mohill doctor’s death

Mohill resident David Logan has published a beautiful new book to mark the centenary of the death of a family doctor who served the greater Mohill area in the early 1920s.

Entitled, ‘From Tragedy to Triumph – new perspectives on the life and legacy of the Leitrim-based doctor, Paddy Muldoon’, the book places his murder within a vicious conflict between Ireland’s National army and their opponents in the IRA, adding, however, that great personal disorder and distress were also involved, including alcohol abuse, a crisis pregnancy, and the abandonment of a new-born child on the side of a road.

While Dr Muldoon’s bereaved widow and children were plunged into deep suffering over his death, they were also consoled by an extraordinary outpouring of mercy from many people, including their wider family circle, colleagues of the late doctor, and compassionate clergymen.

At the same time, the murderers had to face into their deaths reminded of their wrong-doing, with a lingering question as to whether they were ever able to obtain forgiveness before they died.

A really lovely feature of the book is how it shows ecumenical cooperation working to Dr Muldoon’s advantage as he was dying. He was a committed Catholic, yet as he lay wounded on a street in Mohill, a Church of Ireland family called McManus managed to get a Catholic priest as well as a doctor to come to his aid.

The priest had time to minister the Last Rites before Dr Muldoon died, and as he did so he needed to anoint Dr Muldoon’s body, including his feet. Dr Muldoon was wearing boots, thereby impeding the anointing from proceeding, but one of the McManus’s reached over, undid the laces and removed the boots – a touching gesture of mercy across ecumenical lines, echoing words from the ancient Hebrew Scriptures, ‘What I want is mercy, not sacrifice.’

A shocking but satisfying story, it also shows how love triumphed over adversity; and how those who hungered for justice over the murder are now being rewarded in ways they could barely have imagined; while evil, for all its brutality, was frequently prevented from having the last word.

The book is on sale in Paul’s shop, Upper Main Street, Mohill for €10.

If you would like a copy posted to you, please send €15 to the author David Logan, c/o Corner House – Hyde Street, Mohill, Co Leitrim N41 V308.
This will cover the postage and packaging, as well as the book.