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Who’s Who at The Donnelly Trial
The
Victims
James Donnelly (age 63), Johannah Donnelly (56), Bridget Donnelly (21),
Thomas Donnelly (25) and John Donnelly (32)
Trial
Judge
Mr. Justice John Douglas Armour
Played by Dale Bell (Juno and the Paycock)
A strong-willed judge who would "brook no interference in the running
of his court."
The
Defendant
Constable James Carroll
Played by Sean Carmichael (Hellbound)
James Carroll came for the village of Exeter and was a former farmer,
lumberjack and dealer of farming equipment. He was hired as constable
in Lucan in 1879. He is charged with the murder of Johannah Donnelly and
faces the death penalty if found guilty.
The Defense
William Ralph Meredith
Played by Paul Myers (The Under Achievers)
The leader of the Conservative opposition in Queen’s Park, Meredith is
using the trial to position himself as the defender of the right and reputations
of Ontario’s Irish Catholic population. Any attack on his clients would
be treated like an attack on all Irish Catholics.
The
Prosecution
Aemilius Irving
Played by Dean Hall (The End of Civilization)
A member of the Queens Council, president of the Hamilton Law Association,
and a former Liberal Member of Parliament, Irving is a lawyer of the earlier
school in Canada, painstaking, precise, methodical and without a trace
of emotion.
The
Law
Gilbert S. Moore
Played by Ron Smith (Juno and the Paycock)
A police constable from London, Moore was one of the first law officers
at the scene of the murders and helped collect the remains of victims.
William
Casey
Played by Declan Dunne (stage debut)
Biddulph township magistrate who harbored a secret hatred for the Donnelly
family and who meted out more bias than justice.
William
Thomas Trounce Williams
Alistaire McGhee (Suffering Fools)
Chief of Police for the city of London, Williams was in charge of the
murder investigation and was not too fussy if he stepped on anyone’s toes
to obtain a conviction.
Bailiff
Timothy Lewis (Arsenic and Old Lace)
The
Witnesses
John Cain
Played by Craig Munns (Juno and the Paycock)
A member of the Biddulph Vigilance Committee, Cain had once had a land
deal ruined by Mrs. Donnelly, who allegedly threatened a prospective buyer.
Martin
Darcey
Played by Jim Konopetski (The Sunshine Boys)
Member and leader of the Biddulph Vigilance Committee.
Patrick
Whelan
Played by Gerry Hawkins (stage debut)
Grizzled old neighbour of James Donnelly’s once chased James Carroll off
his farm for trying to subpoena his wife and threatened to brain the constable
with an axe if he ever came back. Was nearly cited for contempt at the
hearings in Lucan for refusing to give evidence.
Johnny O’Connor
Played by Joel Bradford (Touched by a Demon) and Scott Morasch (The Secret
Garden)
The 13-year-old Lucan native was the sole survivor of the murders at James
Donnelly’s house and the star witness for the prosecution.
William
Donnelly
Played by Simon Goodwin (Risk Everything)
The most famous member of the Donnelly family provided testimony about
his brother’s murder - but only opened himself up for character assassination
and ridicule by the defense.
Jennie
E. Currie
Played by Eva Blahut (Angels in America)
The only daughter of James and Johannah Donnelly proved to be extremely
emotional when she stepped on the witness stand.
Mary
Hastings O’Connor
Played by Josey Christmas (stage debut)
The mother of Johnny O’Connor who has been blackmailing the crown in exchange
for her son’s testimony.
Mary
Thompson
Played by Sue Mei (The Miracle Worker)
Enemy of the Donnelly family who perjured herself on the witness stand
to secure an alibi for the prisoner.
John
Kennedy
Played by David Leeson (Eve)
William Donnelly’s much hated brother-in law and the suspected killer
of John Donnelly.
James
Feeheley
Played by Jeff Werkmeister (The Under Achievers)
The Judas of the piece, Feeheley was a former friend of the Donnellys
who later betrayed them to their enemies.
Click
here for ticket information on The Donnelly Trial
Click
here for a Donnelly Chronology
Click here for media release on The Donnelly Trial
Click here to view the photo gallery
Click here for the official Donnelly
website
Click here for The Donnellys: Before the Murders
- a new play